A Jefferson County man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for recording his sexual abuse of two minors, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
U.S. District Judge Zachary M. Bluestone handed down the sentence on Tuesday against Benjamin F. Sexton Jr., age 49. One victim reported that Sexton sexually abused her from ages 7 to 14, sometimes restraining her and providing her with methamphetamine, while also recording the abuse. A second victim stated she was abused by Sexton at age 15. Investigators found material documenting the abuse of both victims.
Authorities became aware of the crimes in 2023 after one victim’s grandfather discovered explicit communications between his granddaughter and Sexton and contacted law enforcement.
Sexton pleaded guilty in August to production of child pornography, coercion and enticement of a minor, and receipt of child pornography. As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit items seized by law enforcement including computers, cameras, other electronic devices, two handguns, cell phones, night vision goggles and counterfeit $100 bills.
The investigation was conducted by the St. Louis County Special Investigations Unit, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anderson prosecuted 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 launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice," according to information provided by prosecutors. "Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood 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." More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at www.justice.gov/psc.
