A 41-year-old man from Washington County, Missouri has been sentenced to 29 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple child exploitation offenses.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, William R. Murphy admitted to engaging in sexual abuse of a minor over several years, when the victim was between the ages of 13 and 17.
Prosecutors said Murphy also used threats to coerce the victim into producing sexually explicit images of herself. He pleaded guilty in January to charges including production of child sexual abuse material and coercion and enticement of a minor.
The case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson.
Authorities say the sentence reflects the severity of the crimes and the long-term harm caused to the victim.
Officials also encouraged anyone affected by abuse to seek support through local crisis helplines and advocacy organizations.