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Woman, Two Men Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that three southern Missouri residents were indicted by a federal grand jury today in separate and unrelated cases of sexual child exploitation.
Chelese Penn, 24, of Hartville, Mo., was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment alleges that Penn attempted to use a minor, identified as Jane Doe #1, to produce child pornography between July 1, 2012, and Oct. 3, 2014. Penn is also charged with receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet during that time.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crime Task Force.
Defendant: Chelese Penn
Criminal Charges: Two-count indictment for attempted production of child pornography and receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet
City and State: Hartville, Missouri
Exact Date: July 1, 2012, and Oct. 3, 2014
Sentence or Outcome: Currently pending
Another Missouri resident, Kevin Robert Thomas, 42, of Bolivar, Mo., was charged in a two-count indictment for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet from April 26 to May 2, 2013, and possessing child pornography on June 17, 2013.
Defendant: Kevin Robert Thomas
Criminal Charges: Two-count indictment for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet and possessing child pornography
City and State: Bolivar, Missouri
Exact Date: April 26 to May 2, 2013, and June 17, 2013
Sentence or Outcome: Currently pending
Christian Cannon, 42, of Lebanon, Mo., was charged in an indictment for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet between April 18 and July 21, 2014.
Defendant: Christian Cannon
Criminal Charges: Indictment for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet
City and State: Lebanon, Missouri
Exact Date: April 18 and July 21, 2014
Sentence or Outcome: Currently pending
Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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