William Dahl, Child Pornography, Missouri 2023

ST. LOUIS, MO – A Missouri man has been found guilty of producing and receiving child pornography, officials announced Tuesday.

William Dahl, 39, was found guilty of one count of producing child pornography and two counts of receiving child pornography. He faces at least 15 years in prison when he is sentenced in December.

Judge John A. Ross made the findings of fact and conclusions of law, saying evidence and testimony at a bench trial in May showed that Dahl photographed himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl and then emailed images to others. Dahl also received a video of a 16-year-old and a pornographic image of a 7-year-old.

Dahl met the first victim when she was 13 and he was nearly 23. Dahl took pictures of the girl in a Moberly cemetery in 2007 and sent images of his genitals to her. He also sent images of her to others.

A second victim met Dahl when he was 36 and she was 16. He bought her a cell phone, alcohol, and vaping pods and they exchanged nude pictures.

The third victim is a 7-year-old girl. Dahl’s co-defendant, Jennifer Huddleston, now 35, pleaded guilty in May to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

The investigation began in January of 2021, when the 16-year-old victim and her family reported the inappropriate relationship between the teen and Dahl. A subsequent investigation by the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team uncovered more victims.

Dahl also has pending charges in Audrain County Circuit Court. Huddleston is scheduled to be sentenced October 3. The cases were investigated by the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team and Donya Jackson, an investigator with the U.S. Attorney’s office at the time.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Lang and Amy Sestric are 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.

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