Missouri Dad Faces 260-Months for Child Pornography

ST. LOUIS – A shocking case of child exploitation has led to a severe punishment for Todd Kelly, 37, of Washington, Missouri. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig sentenced Kelly to 260 months in federal prison for recording his sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl.

Kelly, who is now 37, admitted to making the recordings on his cell phone between June and July 2023. The grim investigation began when the victim’s father stumbled upon Snapchat communications between his daughter and Kelly, leading to the discovery of Kelly’s disturbing videos.

Prosecutors revealed that investigators seized four cellular phones from Kelly, which contained explicit materials. In April, Kelly pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography, a charge that mandates at least 15 years in prison.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI played crucial roles in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianne Edwards was responsible for prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

With this sentence, Kelly will also be subject to life-long supervised release upon his prison release. The justice system has delivered a stern message against those who prey on the innocence of children online and offline.