Former Peoria High School boys basketball coach Daniel Ruffin on Friday entered guilty pleas in two separate cases, admitting to soliciting one female student and sexually assaulting another.
Ruffin, 41, pleaded guilty to grooming in the first case and criminal sexual assault in the second case, without any agreement from the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office on sentence recommendations.
He faces a prison term of 4-15 years on the sexual assault when he is sentenced on Jan. 22. The grooming charge carries a term ranging from probation to a maximum of three years in prison, served consecutively from the assault sentence.
Ruffin was arrested Feb. 2 after Peoria Police officers responded to Peoria High regarding allegations a school employee solicited a minor. Officers discovered inappropriate text messages from Ruffin on the victim’s phone.
Three days later, a second victim came forward and reported engaging in sexual acts with Ruffin, many occurring in his office. Officers also found explicit text messages from Ruffin on the student’s phone.
Prosecutors say Ruffin knew both victims were under the age of legal consent.
Peoria Public Schools terminated Ruffin's employment following his arrest.
