James Anthony Guthrie, III, Child Sexual Exploitation, Missouri 2018

Eldon Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Child Sexual Exploitation

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – James Anthony Guthrie, III, 37, of Eldon, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for traveling to North Carolina on five occasions to engage in illicit sexual activity with a child victim over a two-year period.

Guthrie was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 15 years in federal prison without parole.

On November 27, 2018, Guthrie pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

Guthrie admitted that he traveled to North Carolina on five occasions for work and, while there, met the then-15-year-old child victim at various hotels for sex.

According to court documents, Guthrie met the child victim online when she was 14 years old.

Guthrie engaged in sexual communications with her and groomed her by sending gifts, including jewelry, a cellular telephone, food delivery, a life-size teddy bear, shopping trips and nights in a hotel room.

Guthrie manipulated the child victim and exploited the fact that others had abused her.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner.

It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Lebanon, Mo., Police Department and the Lake Area ICAC Task Force.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/eldon-man-sentenced-15-years-child-sexual-exploitation