Russell Alan Pirkey, Sex Exploitation of a Child, Missouri 2023

Man Admits Recording Sex with 10-Year-Old Girl

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, a Missouri man has admitted to recording himself having sex with a 10-year-old girl.

Russell Alan Pirkey, 54, of Linn County, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to a charge of sexual exploitation of a child, a federal crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years.

The crime was discovered on April 8, 2023, when the Brookfield Police Department was contacted with concerns about Pirkey's contact with the victim.

Pirkey has agreed to forfeit a cell phone, a tablet, and various electronic storage devices that were seized by law enforcement during the investigation.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Brookfield Police Department, and the Linn County Sheriff's Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Chapman prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Pirkey is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2025. The guilty plea is a significant blow to those who prey on our most vulnerable citizens, and serves as a reminder of the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/missouri-man-admits-recording-sex-minor