A former Illinois police officer accused of sexually abusing over one dozen boys in four states, including Iowa, was sentenced to 31 years in prison today. Forty-one-year-old Donald Rager pleaded guilty in June 2007 to interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sex with a minor, production of child pornography and interstate transportation of child pornography.
Rayger contacted his victims on internet chat rooms and through instant messaging. Matt Dummermuth, the U.S. Attorney for Iowa’s Northern District, says it’s one of the worst cases he’s seen. Dummermuth says it’s one of the most prolific cases they’ve seen in terms of the number of victims and in terms of contact with victims.
Dummermuth says internet crimes like this are a problem everywhere. "We’re seeing these cases all across the country, not necessarily of this severity, but there are very dangerous offenders out there like Donald Rayger, that I know U.S. Attorneys offices across the country are prosecuting," Dummermuth says.
Rager was arrested after allegedly taking a 13-year-old boy to a Dubuque hotel in February 2006 after contacting the boy in an internet chat room. Prosecutors say Rager videotaped himself having sex with the boy and showed the boy other videos of men having sex with minor boys.
The boy reported the abuse in April 2007, and Rager was arrested after he went to Dubuque to meet with the boy again. Rager is a former part-time police officer in Grayslake, Illinois where he also operated a security business