Sullivan Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

St. Louis, MO – James Ricky Johnson, Jr., 40, of Sullivan, MO, pled guilty on Monday to four counts of Production and Possession of Child Pornography charges.  Johnson appeared before United States District Henry E. Autrey and sentencing is set for September 18, 2018.

According to court documents, Johnson admitted to taking child pornographic photographs of a 11-year-old minor child, as charged under Title 18, United States Code Section 2251(e) which calls for a minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years.      The crime happened between 2014 and 2016, in Sullivan, Missouri.  The images of the child were located during a search of the defendant’s email account by law enforcement.

Possession of Child Pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000 and Production of Child Pornography carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000 and.  In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

The case was investigated by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Charles County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.