U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig has found a man from southeastern Missouri guilty of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. The verdict came after a one-day bench trial.
Rayford Evans, aged 52, was convicted for using his cell phone to record a 15-year-old girl while she was in the bathroom. According to evidence and testimony presented during the trial, Evans held his phone up to a window above the bathroom door to capture footage of the victim bathing and using the bathroom. The incident came to light when the victim noticed the phone and informed a friend, who then told her father and subsequently her own father. Law enforcement was contacted following these revelations.
Evans resides in Doniphan, located in Ripley County. His sentencing is scheduled for later this year, with potential penalties ranging from 15 to 30 years in prison.
The investigation into this case was conducted by both the FBI and the Doniphan City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter is leading the prosecution efforts.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. This program unites federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals exploiting children through online means while also focusing on identifying and rescuing victims.
For further details on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
