Defendant Sentenced for Heinous Crimes

A 46-year-old man from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for recording his rape of a minor with an intellectual disability.

U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk handed down the sentence to Jason R. Hicks-Simpson on Friday, bringing some measure of justice to the victim and her family.

According to court documents, Hicks-Simpson had been sexually abusing the 17-year-old victim since she was five years old. He threatened to kill her and her kittens if she didn’t keep the secret.

Investigators found videos dating back to May 2023 on Hicks-Simpson’s phone, which he claimed was only a single incident. However, the victim told police that the abuse had been ongoing for years.

Hicks-Simpson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau in October to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Poplar Bluff Police Department and the FBI.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The Poplar Bluff Police Department and the FBI commend the bravery of the victim and her family for coming forward and seeking justice.

Jason R. Hicks-Simpson will now be transferred to state court to face additional charges.

The community is urged to remain vigilant in reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.

A full list of charges against Hicks-Simpson can be found on the court’s website.

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