A Peoria County judge sentenced youth sports coach Ayden Trueblood to 26 years in prison Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he coached, according to WMBD / Central Illinois Proud. The assault occurred in 2025 after Trueblood drove the girl to his parents' home in Bartonville, Illinois.
Trueblood pleaded guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault in August, according to WKRC. He was 23 at the time of the assault, which took place while he was coaching in a youth sports program, the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office said.
The investigation began after Bartonville police received a tip about Trueblood's inappropriate behavior toward the girl on Nov. 9, 2025, according to the Peoria Standard.
How the Assault Unfolded
The girl told investigators during a forensic interview that she had communicated with Trueblood on Snapchat and sneaked out of her home to meet him. She said he drove her to his parents' home, where the assault occurred, according to the outlet's report.
Authorities said Trueblood admitted to the assault and to sending the girl explicit photos, according to the same account. Public reporting has not identified the specific youth sports program he coached.
Prosecutors Sought the Maximum Sentence
Assistant State's Attorney Dave Gast sought the maximum 30 years allowed under the plea agreement, telling the court, “This is the nightmare of every parent with a daughter in a sport,” according to WKRC / Local 12. Chief Judge Katherine Gorman sentenced Trueblood to 26 years, four years below the agreement's ceiling.
Gorman noted that Trueblood had no prior criminal history and told him he needed to take accountability for his actions, according to WMBD / Central Illinois Proud. The sentencing hearing took place Wednesday.
Reporting Duties for Youth Sports Personnel
Illinois DCFS lists recreation or athletic program personnel and trainers among mandated reporters who must report suspected child abuse or neglect, according to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
No Resolution on Lingering Questions
Some basic details of the case remain unresolved in public reporting, including the exact legal framework behind the sentencing range for predatory criminal sexual assault in Illinois. Trueblood's first name has also appeared spelled two different ways across coverage of the case, as “Aydan” and “Ayden,” and that discrepancy has not been independently resolved.
