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William R. Murphy, 41, Admits to Child Sex Abuse in Missouri
A Washington County, Missouri man has pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges, admitting to engaging in sexual contact with a juvenile when she was between the ages of 13 and 17.
William R. Murphy, 41, of Washington County, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor in U.S. District Court in St. Louis.
According to his plea agreement, Murphy threatened the victim to obtain images from her that constitute child sexual abuse material.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Murphy is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, and both the U.S. Attorney’s office and Murphy’s lawyer have agreed to recommend 27 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case, which highlights the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes and protecting vulnerable victims.
Project Safe Childhood has been instrumental in marshaling federal, state, and local resources to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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