Andrew Hotchkiss, Child Pornography Production, Missouri 2020

A shocking case of child abuse has come to light in St. Louis, Missouri, as Andrew Hotchkiss, a 41-year-old resident of Irondale, Missouri, pleaded guilty to producing child pornography.

According to court documents, Hotchkiss was indicted by a grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri for the production of child pornography. The charges stem from an investigation that began in 2019, when law enforcement officers with the Oregon State Police recovered images and videos of child pornography on a cellular telephone belonging to an individual in police custody.

The investigation revealed that between March 1, 2019, and May 13, 2019, Hotchkiss sexually abused a 6-year-old victim in St. Francois County, Missouri. He used his cellular telephone to video record and produce images of the abuse, which he then distributed via the internet to one or more others, including a resident of the State of Oregon.

Hotchkiss’s actions were uncovered after the Oregon State Police investigation and their recovery of the images and videos produced by Hotchkiss. The case was investigated by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Secret Service.

Hotchkiss was taken into custody and pleaded guilty to the charges in a United States District Court in St. Louis. The court accepted his plea, and he is currently awaiting sentencing.

The production of child pornography is a serious crime that carries severe penalties. Hotchkiss’s actions have caused irreparable harm to the victim and their family, and it is essential that he is held accountable for his crimes.

As our community continues to grapple with the issue of child abuse, it is crucial that we prioritize the safety and well-being of our children. We must work together to prevent such heinous crimes and provide support to those affected by them.

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