ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – A shocking case of child exploitation has come to light in St. Louis, as a 56-year-old man admitted to driving a 12-year-old girl from Michigan to Missouri for illicit sex acts.
Harold Paul White pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of interstate travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. According to court documents, White met the girl on social media and drove to Michigan to pick her up.
White engaged in illegal sex acts with the minor at his apartment and recorded those acts with a phone, before buying her a bus ticket home when the victim realized she was reported missing.
The FBI and local police investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006.
White is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, with both sides agreeing to recommend 15 years in prison.
The case highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting our children from predators and the need for continued support of initiatives like Project Safe Childhood.
Related Federal Cases
- Kyle Lee Smith, Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, Arkansas 2015 · North Carolina
- Darlina Maree Jasso, Transporting a Minor across State Lines to Engage in Sexual Activity, Arkansas 2022 · Missouri
- David Tatum, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, North Carolina 2023 · Michigan
- Russell Alan Pirkey, Child Sex Exploitation, Missouri 2023 · Michigan
- David McKnight, Unlawful Search, Missouri 2023 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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