Huntley Man Accused of Sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material

20-year-old John Ruffalo faces multiple felony charges after authorities found alleged abuse content on seized devices.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

A 20-year-old man from Huntley, Illinois has been charged with several felonies, including distribution and possession of child sexual abuse materials, after authorities uncovered the alleged content on devices seized from his home. The investigation began in July 2025 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified police about a Huntley-based IP address attempting to share potential abuse materials online.

Why it matters

The case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to identify and prosecute individuals engaged in the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse materials, which is a serious crime with devastating impacts on victims. It also underscores the importance of reporting suspicious online activity to authorities.

The details

According to police, John Ruffalo has been charged with five counts of distribution of child sexual abuse materials, 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials depicting a victim under 13 years of age, and two counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials depicting a victim under 18 years of age. Authorities seized several devices from Ruffalo's home during a search and he was taken into custody after agreeing to go to the police department.

  • The investigation into Ruffalo's alleged actions began in July 2025.
  • On Wednesday, authorities conducted a search at Ruffalo's home and seized several devices.

The players

John Ruffalo

A 20-year-old man from Huntley, Illinois who has been charged with multiple felonies related to the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse materials.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

The organization that notified Huntley police about a Huntley-based IP address allegedly attempting to share potential child sexual abuse materials online.

Huntley Police Department

The law enforcement agency that conducted the investigation and search that led to Ruffalo's arrest.

Illinois Attorney General's Office

Investigators from the Illinois Attorney General's Office assisted Huntley police in the investigation and search.

Illinois State Police

The state police agency that provided assistance to Huntley police during the investigation and search.

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What’s next

Ruffalo is currently in custody at the McHenry County Jail pending a detention hearing, where a judge will determine whether he should be released on bail or remain in jail during the legal proceedings.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical role that law enforcement and child protection organizations play in identifying and prosecuting individuals engaged in the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse materials, which is a heinous crime that causes immense harm to vulnerable victims.