Predator Got 20: MO Man Sexually Abused Teen

⏱ 3 min read

Anthony Moore, 49, of Jefferson County, Missouri, is facing two decades behind bars after admitting he preyed on a 13-year-old girl. Moore pleaded guilty Thursday to receiving child pornography in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, confirming a pattern of sexual abuse spanning 2023 and 2024. The abuse began when the victim was just 13 and Moore was 46.

The scheme unraveled when the girl’s father discovered disturbing communications on her phone. He found Moore soliciting nude photos, and investigators quickly confirmed the abuse when they searched Moore’s own device, recovering images of the victim. It was a father’s worst nightmare confirmed in digital form.

Both prosecutors and Moore’s defense team have agreed to recommend a 20-year sentence when he appears before the judge on June 24th. While a plea deal, it’s a substantial penalty for a man who abused a child and attempted to hide his crimes through digital means.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, building a case that landed in federal court and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson. The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at dismantling child sexual exploitation networks and protecting vulnerable kids.