Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced that his office secured a guilty plea from a Knox County resident in a child solicitation case. William A. Peck, 36, from Galesburg, was prosecuted in collaboration with Knox County State’s Attorney Ashley Worby. Peck pleaded guilty to two counts of solicitation of child pornography, classified as Class X felonies. His sentencing is scheduled for July 9.
“This guilty plea represents justice for the innocent victims who have been exploited and abused,” Raoul stated. His office remains committed to working with law enforcement to hold offenders accountable and support survivors.
Peck was initially apprehended in November 2023 when investigators from Raoul’s office, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Galesburg Police Department searched his residence and found evidence of child sexual abuse material. Prior convictions against Peck include indecent solicitation of a minor and possession of similar material, for which he served six years in jail.
Knox County State’s Attorney Ashley Worby commended the efforts of law enforcement in these challenging cases. “I am pleased with the negotiated disposition in this case and hopeful that the 24-year sentence will deter the defendant and others from engaging in this abhorrent behavior,” Worby added.
Raoul's office operates the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, which investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement. The task force receives CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, with reports steadily increasing. In 2024 alone, the agency recorded an 11% rise in CyberTipline reports compared to 2023.
The Illinois ICAC Task Force collaborates with over 200 law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, it has received more than 54,700 CyberTips, leading to over 900 arrests of sexual predators. Since its inception in 2006, the task force has been involved in over 2,300 such arrests. In 2024, it contributed to rescuing more than 45 children from ongoing abuse and provided safety training to numerous stakeholders.
Attorney General Raoul reminds the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. Local child advocacy centers are accessible via childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Assistant Attorney General Katherine C. Hegarty is prosecuting the case for Raoul's High Tech Crimes Bureau.