ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES FORMER MCLEAN COUNTY SHERIFF EMPLOYEE WITH POSSESSION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES FORMER MCLEAN COUNTY SHERIFF EMPLOYEE WITH POSSESSION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

August 11, 2026

Defendant Previously Employed as McLean County Sheriff's Office Correctional Officer

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a McLean County Sheriff's Office jail control room supervisor, who was previously a correctional officer with the sheriff's office, for possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul's ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online.

The Attorney General's office charged Trent W. Arbuckle, 56, of Hudson, Illinois in McLean County Circuit Court with two counts of possession of child pornography of a victim under 13, Class 2 felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Arbuckle is detained at the Champaign County Jail and his next court date is Sept. 4.

"It is unacceptable for anyone to exploit children on the internet, but this offense is even more shocking when allegedly committed by a member of law enforcement," Raoul said. "This horrendous crime leaves life-long scars on survivors and their families, which is why my office's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to work with local authorities to hold these predators accountable - no matter who they are."

Raoul's investigators, assisted by officers from the McLean County Sheriff's Office, conducted a search on Monday of Arbuckle's home in the 300 Block of North West Street in Hudson. Arbuckle was arrested based on evidence of child abuse material. Bloomington Police Department also assisted with this case.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Raoul's office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2025, reports to the ICAC Task Force increased by 45% over 2024.

Illinois' ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has received more than 82,900 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,250 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,600 arrests of sexual predators. In 2025, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 30 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to more than a million parents, teachers and students, in addition to more than 25,000 law enforcement professionals.

Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.

Assistant Attorney General Sarah Holst Schryer is prosecuting the case for Raoul's High Tech Crimes Bureau.