A federal grand jury has indicted Justin Johiah Curtright, 40, and Christin Marie Curtright, 32, from Springfield, Missouri. The couple faces charges following their arrest last month related to allegations of grooming a 13-year-old girl online and subsequently abducting and sexually abusing her.
The indictment includes charges of coercion and enticement of a minor, conspiracy and transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity, and three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Each charge carries significant mandatory minimum prison sentences. If found guilty, the Curtrights could face life imprisonment.
Court documents reveal that in May 2024, the victim met Justin Curtright on Discord. Initially posing as an 18-year-old using an alias, the victim engaged in extensive conversations with Justin. He soon introduced her to his wife Christin on a private Discord channel. Despite discovering she was only 13 years old, the couple continued engaging in explicit acts with her online.
In late June, the Curtrights planned to travel to Virginia to abduct the victim. On July 24, they met her near her home and took her back to their apartment in Missouri. During this time, they allegedly sexually assaulted her repeatedly until police rescued her days later.
On July 27, officers from the Springfield Police Department discovered the victim hiding in a closet at the Curtrights' residence. She had been given a debit card and false ID by Justin Curtright to misrepresent herself as his daughter.
Authorities seized phones containing recordings of video chats where the couple groomed and exploited the victim. Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee announced these developments alongside Stanley M. Meador from the FBI's Richmond Division.
The case is under investigation by the FBI, Springfield Police Department, and other local agencies. Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman is prosecuting.
This case forms part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse through collaboration between federal, state, and local resources.
An indictment is an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood: www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.