⏱ 2 min read
Tanner Stevens, a 23-year-old man from Wayne County, Missouri, has admitted to producing and distributing child sexual abuse material. The disturbing case began when Stevens was just 13 or 14 years old, when he started viewing child sexual abuse material. As he got older, Stevens took pictures of two minors when he was a minor himself, and later uploaded them to the internet when he was 21. The investigation into Stevens’ activities started when the Missouri State Highway Patrol Special Victims Unit received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about someone uploading child sexual abuse material to Google Photos.
Further investigation revealed that Stevens’ cellular phone contained over 100 videos and more than 400 images of child sexual abuse material. Stevens pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of receiving child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17 and faces a penalty of five to 20 years in prison.
The case against Stevens was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuting.
The guilty plea is a significant step towards justice for the victims of Stevens’ crimes. However, it also highlights the ongoing problem of child sexual abuse material and the need for continued efforts to prevent and prosecute these crimes.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Missouri
- Location: MO
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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