Politics & Government
Illinois Senate Addresses Sexual Assault In Youth Sports
IL Senate committee pushes for mandatory reporting requirements in youth sports and legal protections for accusers in sexual assault cases.
SPRINGFIELD, IL — A group of women who claim an Aurora volleyball coach sexually assaulted them when they were minors are asking Illinois lawmakers to consider changing regulations when it comes to these types of cases. Peoria Public Radio reports women testified in front of a special committee in the Illinois Senate last week, telling their stories about how Sports Performance Volleyball Club coach Rick Butler sexually assaulted them in the 1980s.
A lawsuit filed in February includes extensive details from five women on Butler's ongoing abuse, and one accuser claims Butler first raped her a year after she joined the club at age 16, according to Peoria Public Radio. According to the suit, another accuser says Butler got her pregnant when she was in college in California, before flying out and taking her to a clinic to terminate the pregnancy.
In January, Butler was banned from USA Volleyball and other athletic organizations.
Find out what's happening in Springfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
RELATED: Aurora Volleyball Coach Banned From Sport For 2nd Time
The women came forward more than 20 years ago, but because the age of consent was 16 at the time of Butler's alleged rapes, the cases would fall under adult criminal assault where the limitation is 10 years, meaning the women could no longer press charges.
Find out what's happening in Springfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Patch reported back in August the signing of Senate Bill 189 into law, which thanks to bipartisan support removes the statute of limitations for felony criminal sexual abuse and sex crimes against children, allowing for the prosecution of these offenses at any time.
RELATED: Bill Removing Statute of Limitations On Child Sex Cases Signed into Law
Members of the Illinois Senate Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention Task Force say they're working with Butler’s accusers and their attorney on a measure that would be called the Speak Out Act, which when filed would include mandatory reporting requirements in youth sports and legal protections for accusers.
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