PEORIA, Ill. – A former Peoria High School basketball coach has pleaded guilty in two cases involving students.
The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office says 41-year-old Daniel C. Ruffin pleaded guilty to grooming in one case and criminal sexual assault in another. There is no agreement on his sentence, which is scheduled to be handed down January 22.
Ruffin was arrested in February after Peoria Police were called to Peoria High School over allegations that a school employee had solicited a minor. Investigators reviewed inappropriate text messages on the student’s phone before arresting Ruffin.
Prosecutors say a second student came forward three days later and told police Ruffin had sexual contact with her while he was a coach at the school.
The second student was 17 at the time. She told investigators Ruffin engaged in sexual acts with her, many of which occurred in his school office. Police also found explicit text messages Ruffin had sent to the student, according to prosecutors.
The State’s Attorney’s Office says Ruffin knew both students were under the age of legal consent.
Comments