ST. LOUIS – A jury on Wednesday afternoon delivered a guilty verdict against David S. Becker, 69, of St. Louis County, finding him responsible for all the child sex-related charges he faced.
Becker was convicted of one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of receiving/distributing child pornography. The trial, which commenced on Monday, revealed that Becker had been communicating with someone who claimed to be the mother of an 11-year-old girl in France over a nudist website. Evidence indicated that Becker planned to travel to France in June 2023 after purchasing plane tickets and securing an extended-stay visa.
The investigation was initiated when a cyber tipline report flagged child sexual abuse material (CSAM) being uploaded online. On May 22, 2023, authorities conducted a court-approved search of Becker’s home. They discovered CSAM on his electronic devices along with extensive communications detailing his plans to sexually abuse the girl.
In her opening statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson described Becker’s actions as “deranged and unnatural.” The defendant is set for sentencing on December 1st. If convicted of coercion, he faces a penalty of 10 years to life in prison, while child pornography carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Dept. Special Investigations Unit, the FBI, and the Maryland Heights Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jillian Anderson and Michael Hayes are handling the prosecution. This trial is part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative combatting child sexual exploitation launched in 2006.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related Federal Cases
- Medicaid Scam: St. Louis Woman Pleads Guilty · Maryland
- Lee & Downing: MD Pimps Plead Guilty to Sex Trafficking · Maryland
- Secret Service Officer Moore Admits to Preying on Minors · Texas
- Schweidler Sentenced for $2.25M Steroid Ring · New Hampshire
- Amex, Visa, Mastercard Sued Over Anti-Competitive Rules · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
