A Franklin County couple has confessed to producing disturbing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a toddler. William Burns, 41, admitted to multiple charges, including conspiracy to produce child pornography and possession of it, while his spouse, Rachel Burns, 34, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and production charges, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office in St. Louis.
The couple's illegal activities came under scrutiny following their arrest by the University City Police Department on July 30, 2023, leading Rachel Burns to disclose to investigators her husband's possession of CSAM across various electronic devices, this revelation instigated a court-approved search by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office where they discovered over 13,000 graphic files on a computer and digital storage devices and a video of the couple sexually abusing a one-year-old child. In the plea agreements, they confessed to creating other abusive images and videos in 2022 and 2023.
William Burns had been involved in exchanging this heinous material using a WhatsApp account as found by investigators; according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the couple is scheduled for sentencing later this year, with recommendations for prison terms no greater than 35 years for Rachel Burns and between 35 to 40 years for William Burns.
This case forms part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative, which has been combating child sexual exploitation since its inception in May 2006, marshaling a wide net of federal, state and local resources to apprehend offenders and safeguard children, as disclosed in their plea agreement; Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is leading the prosecution.
