Effingham County, IL – A Toledo, Illinois man has been arrested on multiple felony sex crime charges following an investigation by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies served an arrest warrant on James R. Waddell, 47, during the afternoon of October 27, 2025. The charges stem from alleged offenses committed in Effingham County.
The arrest warrant, issued October 24 in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, lists six felony counts against Waddell: one count of Criminal Sexual Assault (Class One Felony), one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (Class Two Felony), and four counts of Child Pornography (all Class Three Felonies).
The Sheriff’s Office said it was assisted in the investigation by the advocacy group SAFE (Sexual Assault and Family Emergencies), the Effingham City Police Department, the Mattoon Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Effingham County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Waddell remains in custody at the Effingham County Jail, awaiting a pre-trial detention hearing. Authorities emphasized that he should be considered innocent of all allegations until proven guilty in a court of law.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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