Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Piatt County State’s Attorney Sarah Perry today announced that a former Monticello, Illinois police officer was sentenced to 36 years in prison for disseminating 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 images online.
William “Craig” Griswold, 40, of Monticello, was sentenced by Piatt County Circuit Court Judge Gary A. Webber on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to two Class X felony counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material.
“Child exploitation is a horrific crime that is made even more reprehensible when the alleged offender is a member of law enforcement who has sworn to protect families,” Raoul said. “This sentence sends the message that offenders who commit these crimes will be held accountable – no matter who they are. I will continue to partner with local law enforcement officers and state’s attorneys to obtain justice for survivors.”
Illinois State Police investigators conducted a search of Griswold’s residence in the 200 NW. block of Union St. in Monticello in August 2024. Griswold was arrested following his admission to disseminating child sexual abuse material.
Raoul’s office prosecuted this case with Piatt County State’s Attorney Sarah Perry’s office.
“I am pleased with the outcome of the sentencing hearing, and I believe it was a just resolution of this case,” Sate’s Attorney Perry said. “I appreciate the efforts of all involved, including the investigation conducted by the Illinois State Police and the collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office in prosecuting this case.”
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 2024, reports to the ICAC increased by 11% over 2023.
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 60,000 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,000 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,400 arrests of sexual predators. In 2024, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 45 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to tens of thousands of parents, teachers, students and 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.
Deputy Bureau Chief Shannon O’Brien prosecuted the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
