November 14, 2014

Nixa Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Producing Child Pornography

KANSAS CITY, MO—Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today a Nixa, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for producing child pornography.

Michael John Kinney, 40, of Nixa, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Kinney to pay $3,000 in restitution to a victim of child pornography and a $7,000 fine.

On July 30, 2014, Kinney pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Kinney admitted that he used a minor victim to produce child pornography between Jan. 27, 2007, and Jan. 26, 2009. Kinney also admitted that he was in possession of child pornography on April 29, 2011.

Federal agents executed search warrants at Kinney’s residence and at his business, ABC Baby Goods, which sold children’s furniture and clothing. Agents seized two laptop computers from his residence. Investigators discovered 10 videos of child pornography that were made from a hidden camera in Kinney’s home and additional videos and images of child pornography, including children under the age of six engaged in acts of sexual intercourse with adults or other children. Investigators also discovered numerous images of child erotica, including a child victim in various stages of undress. Kinney must forfeit those computers to the government.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”