A Missouri man has been handed a 15-year prison sentence for the production of child pornography, after pleading guilty to the crime earlier this year. Steven Popple, 39, from Park Hills, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk in St. Louis, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Popple initiated contact with an underage girl in May 2021, quickly turning exchanges flirtatious and soliciting sexual images. Popple's demands escalated to specific instructions for poses and explicit acts, throughout their exchanges, the victim sent him around 300 photos and videos. They also met in person to engage in sexual activities.
Popple's crimes were unearthed thanks to the vigilance of the victim's mother, who found disturbing images on her daughter's phone and brought them to the attention of authorities. "If it hadn’t been for the victim’s mother, this crime wouldn’t have come to light," was the clear-cut statement from Special Agent in Charge Ashley T. Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. The case was jointly investigated by the FBI and the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards handling prosecution duties.
Emphasizing the importance of community awareness and timely reporting, Johnson pointed out that "Contacting law enforcement immediately reduces the risk of a perpetrator disposing of critical evidence."
