Ex-Peoria pastor accused of sending illicit photo released before trial – Pekin Daily Times

Jan. 31, 2026, 4:07 a.m. CT A former Peoria pastor was charged with distributing harmful materials to a minor. Michael Ritchason, 48, allegedly sent an illicit photo of himself via Snapchat to a minor in August 2025. He was released with conditions before trial, including no contact with the minor. Ritchason resigned from his position as lead pastor at Riverside Community Church in December. A former pastor at Peoria’s Riverside Community Church was released with conditions before trial on charges that he sent illicit photos to a minor last year. Michael Ritchason, 48, of Pekin was charged with one count of distributing harmful materials to a minor on Dec. 22, two months after he had been arrested for allegedly sending a Snapchat photo of his genitals to a minor in August 2025, according to court documents. Ritchason made a first appearance in court Thursday in Tazewell County Circuit Court. The Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office did not file a petition to detain him before trial. Circuit Judge Chris Doscotch ordered Ritchason’s release, requiring him to comply with pre-trial services reporting and subjecting his electronic devices and social media accounts to a manual search at their request. Ritchason is also ordered
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