A St. Louis man, Curion M. Turner, has been sentenced to a 15-year prison term for the sexual exploitation of underage girls. According to a recent press release from the Circuit Attorney's Office, Turner, 26, pleaded guilty to four counts of statutory rape and two counts of statutory sodomy under a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Turner's actions unfolded nefariously, as he was found to have deceitfully portrayed himself as a 17-year-old to lure three young girls between the ages of 13 and 14. After establishing contact through social media or in-person encounters, he successfully manipulated each of them separately to quickly engage in romantic and sexual relationships. Notably, in July, he performed sexual acts with a 14-year-old girl he met at a party. Months later, he brazenly arranged to have a 13-year-old picked up from her middle school via a ride-share service to his home for sexual activity and brought another 14-year-old to a hotel, after providing her marijuana and alcohol, where they had sexual intercourse, as reported by the Circuit Attorney's Office.
The Circuit Attorney’s Office shared during the sentencing that Assistant Circuit Attorney Sydney Beecher publicly read statements from the mothers of two victims. They spoke of the "unbearable and unimaginable trauma" their daughters are experiencing and also of their daughters' "strength and determination on their road to recovery."
Circuit Attorney Gore has taken a firm stand, stressing the severity of the crimes and the intentions of his office. "The crimes committed by Turner are unforgivable. Crimes against minors are among the most serious and disturbing offenses we prosecute. We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure offenders are held accountable," he said, in a message to under effectively communicate the gravity the office places on such offenses.
