East Central Reporter

There were three new registered sex offenders living in Richland County as of the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the previous quarter, according to the Illinois Police Sex Offender Registry.

All of the offenders who moved to Richland County during this period were sexual predators.

Sexual predators and child murderers remain on the registry for the rest of their lives. Sexually violent people are no longer listed 10 years after their conviction.

The offenders moving into Richland County may have been recently convicted or moved from other cities in the US.

According to a 2024 study by SafeHome.org, Illinois ranks fifth in the total number of registered sex offenders, with more than 34,000 living in the state.

Nationally, the study found over 795,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S. as of August 2024 — an increase of approximately 8,000 compared to 2023.

Offender	Title	Status	Crime
Auttie B Decker	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Predatory criminal sexual assault
Barry R. Godfrey	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Child pornography/film/photos
Brian G. Biehl	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16 and Fail to register a new residence/school/2nd+
Burt D. Wenzel	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Predatory criminal sexual assault
Byron L. Comer	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Daniel F. Gillard	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16 and Child pornography victim less than 13
Dellas A. Davis	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Edward J. Bates	Sexual Predator	Non-Compliant	Child pornography/film/photos and Child pornography/reproduce/sell
James A. Walker	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sex abuse/victim 13-18 and Criminal sexual assault
James B. Shaw	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual assault/victim <9
Jason L. Howard	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
John W. Smith	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Child pornography/film/photos
Joshua A. Heath	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Matthew T. King	Non-verified Child Sex Offender	Compliant	Criminal sexual abuse and Violate sex offender registration
Michael D. Saunders	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Predatory criminal sexual assault
Michael R. Schoonover	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Nathan W. Ellison	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16, Fail to register a new residence/school/2nd+, Failure to register new residence/school and Failure to report annually
Randy L. Walker	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sex abuse/bodily harm and Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim 13-16
Ronald D. Collins	Non-verified Child Sex Offender	Compliant	Sexual exploitation of a child/sex act
Shalon D. Ruff	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim <13
Terry L. Trusty	Sexual Predator	Compliant	Aggravated criminal sexual abuse/victim <13