Tracy Weaver, Moultrie County State's Attorney

06/26/2025

PRESS RELEASE
June 26, 2025
For Immediate Release

MOULTRIE COUNTY BOARD MEMBER AND SECOND MAN
CHARGED WITH CHILD PO*******HY

On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Scott L. Buxton, age 58, Bethany, Illinois, was charged in Moultrie County for the offenses including Possession of Child Po*******hy.

Illinois State Police (ISP) received a CyberTip related to suspicious internet activity linked to a Gmail account. Upon further investigation, ISP connected the Gmail email account and associated IP address to Buxton. Within online accounts, multiple images depicting child po*******hy were discovered.

ISP learned that Buxton and Tyler Scott, age 26, formerly of Dalton City, Illinois engaged in communications which included requests for and transmission of images and videos containing child po*******hy. Investigation by ISP is ongoing.

Tyler Scott was arrested by ISP on June 25, 2025, for offenses including Child Po*******hy and Grooming. He is being held in custody after a detention hearing conducted on June 26, 2025. He will next appear in court on June 30, 2025, for a preliminary hearing.

Buxton has served on the Moultrie County Board since December 2022 and was elected to serve as Marrowbone Township Supervisor in April 2025.

Due to a conflict of interest arising from Buxton serving on the Moultrie County Board, the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office recused itself. Jesse Danley, Coles County State’s Attorney, was appointed as a Special Prosecutor to oversee the prosecution of Buxton.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

12/12/2024

For immediate release
December 12, 2024
FORMER OKAW VALLEY TEACHER SENTENCED TO IDOC AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO GROOMING AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELIQUENCY OF A MINOR STUDENT

On Thursday December 12, 2024, Jason R. Engler, age 45, Shelbyville, Illinois, was sentenced to a total of five (5) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after he previously pled guilty to Grooming, a Class 4 Felony, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, a Class 2 felony.
The Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office presented evidence at the sentencing hearing that an investigation of Engler began in Findlay, Illinois and resulted in the arrest and filing of criminal charges in Shelby County. Arising out of that investigation, Bethany Police learned of an additional victim which led to a second set of charges being filed in Moultrie County. Engler was the track coach and teacher for Okaw Valley where both victims attended
school.
During the multi-jurisdictional investigation, police officers located a journal in Engler’s home which referenced one minor victim by name and indicated Engler’s desire to take the victim to his home state of Ohio so she could be his “wife.” Additional evidence presented in court was that Engler admitted in an interview conducted by the Bethany Police Department that Engler sent her pornographic images of himself on social media and requested pornographic images of the alleged victim in exchange. Further evidence included that Engler requested a third minor to communicate with one of the victims after Engler was arrested in Shelby County.
Marvin Hanson, attorney for Engler, argued that because Engler had no prior criminal history or opportunity to engage in treatment that Engler should be placed on a term of probation. Tracy Weaver, Moultrie County State’s Attorney, asked that a term to the Illinois
Department of Corrections be imposed given the seriousness of the offenses and because Engler held a position of trust in relation to the victims.
Judge Jeremy Richey sentenced Engler to three years in prison for Grooming and five years in prison for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor with the sentences to run concurrent to each other for a total of five years in Moultrie County case 24-CF-48.
Engler is next scheduled for court in Shelby County case 24-CF-97 on December 18,
2024.

11/06/2024

To my fellow citizens of Moultrie County:

The votes have been counted and our election draws to a close. It is important to thank so many.

First, to all of the voters and to everyone else whose voices, young and old, were heard yesterday, thank you for exercising those most fundamental of our freedoms.

To my family, friends, and neighbors, thank you for your unwavering support.

To my office staff, thank you for your tireless efforts and nights and weekends spent furthering the prosecutions of the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office.

To my fellow office holders who have been re-elected, congratulations, and to them and those office holders not up for re-election, thank you for your help in working with me so that we collectively promote the interests of all our constituents in Moultrie County.

To those members of the county board who did not seek re-election, thank you for your service to our county and for working with me over these years to further the objectives of Moultrie County’s government.

To those incoming members of the county board, congratulations on your elections. I look forward to working with you in our collective service to the people of Moultrie County, and you will always be welcome in my office so that I can help serve your needs and so that you can see the inner-workings of criminal prosecution and other legal services to Moultrie County.

It is a great honor to serve one’s community. So thank you, Moultrie County, for placing such immense trust in me.

Sincerely,

Tracy

08/26/2024

PRESS RELEASE
August 26, 2024
For Immediate Release

FORMER OKAW VALLEY TEACHER ARRESTED ON
CHARGES RELATED TO AN ADDITIONAL MINOR VICTIM

On Friday, August 23, 2024, Jason R. Engler, age 45, Shelbyville, Illinois, was arrested on a Moultrie County warrant for offenses including Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, Grooming, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

Engler appeared in court this morning for arraignment and detention hearing in Sullivan, Illinois on Moultrie County case 24-CF-48. During the hearing the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office presented evidence that an investigation of Engler began in Shelby County, Illinois and resulted in the arrest and filing of criminal charges in Shelby County case 24-CF-97. Those charges include the offense of Grooming, a Class 4 felony, involving a student at Okaw Valley schools, where Engler was formerly a teacher and track coach.

Arising out of that investigation, Bethany Police learned of an additional alleged victim who resides in Bethany, Illinois. During the multi-jurisdictional investigation, officers located a journal in Engler’s home which referenced the minor victim by name, and indicated Engler’s desire to take the victim to the state of Ohio so she could be his “wife.” Additional evidence presented in court was that Engler admitted in an interview conducted by the Bethany Police Department that Engler sent her pornographic images of himself on social media and requested pornographic images of the alleged victim in exchange. Further evidence admitted included that Engler directed a third party to communicate with the victim when Engler recognized he should not be having contact with the victim.

Moultrie County Public Defender Marvin Hanson was appointed to represent Engler. Circuit Judge Jeremy Richey ordered Engler to be detained in custody pending trial. Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse is a Class 1 felony; Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor is a Class 2 felony; and Grooming is a Class 4 felony.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

08/20/2024

As a thank you to local military veterans living and working in Moultrie County, please come out to the Sullivan American Legion this Thursday, August 22, 2024, starting at 5:00 pm for free pizza (until free pizza runs out).

Pizza’s will be donated by, Tracy Weaver, Moultrie County State’s Attorney with sincerest thanks to our local veterans.

08/08/2024

PRESS RELEASE
August 8, 2024
For Immediate Release

MOULTRIE COUNTY MAN ARRESTED FOR
OFFENSES RELATED TO CHILD PO*******HY


On Thursday, August 8, 2024, the Illinois State Police arrested Christopher D. Davis, age 38, of Sullivan, Illinois, for the offenses related to the possession of child po*******hy.

Illinois State Police (ISP) received a CyberTip related to suspicious internet activity linked to a Yahoo account. Further investigation revealed that the Yahoo email account belonged to Davis. Within the email account, multiple images depicting child po*******hy were discovered.

Investigators from ISP conducted an interview with Davis on August 7, 2024. During the interview, Davis admitted to investigators he had viewed images of child po*******hy online. He also stated he saved online images of child po*******hy to a personal electronic device.

ISP reports indicate Davis is a sixth-grade teacher at Lovington Grade School, Lovington, Illinois. Investigation is ongoing; however, ISP investigation indicates that the images found appear to originate from online websites and no local minors were involved.

“Exploitation of a child is terrible, criminal conduct and ISP special agents are committed to relentlessly pursuing justice and safety for all children every day,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.

Davis will appear in court on August 9, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. for a detention hearing and arraignment in Moultrie County. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

05/15/2024

In recognition of National Police Week 2024, heartfelt thanks goes out to all the men and women who have served and in honoring all who made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for all you do to keep our communities safe!

05/14/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/px5f67fkrhqNmDzi/?mibextid=WC7FNe

The fugitive was wanted on a 2001 Moultrie County failure to appear charge stemming from a 2000 warrant, charging him with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and related

05/10/2024

It is National Correctional Officer Week! A heartfelt thank you to all our Corrections Officers in Moultrie County and beyond. Your service is appreciated.

02/29/2024

Early voting is underway at the Moultrie County Courthouse, and Election Day is March 19, 2024. Local candidates need your support. Please vote!
🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️🗳️

02/03/2024

A little over one month until the primary and signs are popping up. Thank you for your support! If you’d like a yard sign, please let me know.

01/22/2024

Moultrie County Courthouse closed today, January 22, 2024