PEORIA (IL)
WMBD [Peoria, IL]
September 14, 2026
By Andy Kravetz
A former head pastor of a Downtown Peoria church is serving a two-month jail sentence after pleading guilty last week to sending illicit material to an underage person.
Michael S. Ritchason, 48, of Pekin, began serving his sentence Friday, a day after he pleaded guilty in Tazewell County Circuit Court to the single felony count of dissemination of harmful materials, a felony that could have sent him to prison for up to three years.
His actual jail time is about 30 days as he’s eligible for day for day “good-time” credit.Former Peoria pastor arraigned for dissemination of harmful materials
Instead, the former pastor at Riverside Community Church was sentenced to two years of sex offender probation, which mandates sex offender treatment. He also has restrictions on being around children as well as using the internet, according to court records.
He doesn’t have to register as a sex offender because the charge isn’t eligible for that under state law, according to an official at the state’s attorney’s office.
He will next return to court on Sept. 9, 2027, for a “remission hearing.” At that hearing, a judge will determine if he’s complied with his probation, which is to last two years.
If so, then the remainder of his sentence will be stayed. If not, then he’ll have to go back and serve additional time, which is capped at an additional four months behind bars.
Ritchason also must pay roughly $2,300 in fines, fees and costs, according to court records.
According to a probable cause statement filed in court, Ritchason was sending inappropriate pictures to a boy in August 2025 through the Snapchat social media platform. The boy used his sister’s phone to record the conversation, which lasted about 20 minutes, according to the statement.
Ritchason was arrested in October 2025 by Pekin police. At that time, he was listed as the lead pastor for Riverside. In late December, the church cut ties with him, saying in a statement, “On Sunday, Dec. 28, the elders determined that Riverside would require Michael’s resignation, and we received it on Monday morning. In the best interest of the church, we will be moving forward with the process of formally appointing a new Lead Pastor.”