A federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri, has indicted a 39-year-old El Dorado Springs woman and a 36-year-old North Plainfield, New Jersey, man on charges of producing child pornography and exploiting a minor. Amanda Errin Hunt and Daniel Thomas Baggott face multiple federal counts tied to the sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old victim over a 20-month period.
The four-count indictment charges both Hunt and Baggott with one count of using a child to produce child pornography between August 5, 2017, and April 9, 2019. They are also charged with using a cell phone to induce the minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. The indictment, returned today, replaces a criminal complaint originally filed on April 11, 2019. Both defendants remain in federal custody, awaiting trial.
According to an affidavit supporting the original complaint, the case began when Facebook flagged suspicious activity and submitted a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on April 7, 2019. Investigators discovered that Hunt and Baggott exchanged graphic images of child pornography through Facebook Messenger. The digital trail also included sexually explicit messages involving the 15-year-old victim.
Hunt admitted to law enforcement that Baggott was her boyfriend, deepening concerns about the coordinated nature of the abuse. The investigation revealed that both defendants played active roles in manipulating and exploiting the child, using digital communication to facilitate the crimes. Evidence collected includes chat logs, shared media, and device metadata linking both individuals to the production and distribution of illicit material.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Southwest Missouri Cybercrime Task Force, and the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller is prosecuting the case, which falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood—a Justice Department initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation.
As required by federal law, the charges are presumed accusations until proven in court. A trial jury will ultimately determine the guilt or innocence of Amanda Errin Hunt and Daniel Thomas Baggott based on evidence presented by prosecutors. Project Safe Childhood continues to prioritize the identification and rescue of child victims while pursuing those who exploit minors through digital means.
Related Federal Cases
- Daniel C. Irwin Sentenced for Child Porn, Sex Meet-Up Attempt · Kansas
- James Paroline Admits to Downloading Child Porn in Monmouth County · New Jersey
- NJ Man Hubert Young Guilty in Child Porn ‘Sextortion’ Case · New Jersey
- Fricovsky Guilty of Child Porn · New Jersey
- Thomas J. Leonard Gets 97 Months for Child Porn Distribution · New Jersey
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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