A registered sex offender from Farmington admitted in federal court on Friday to possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material, including to a member of his girlfriend’s family.
Stephen Curtis Mincey Watters, 39, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession of child pornography as a prior offender. He admitted to sending four images of child sexual abuse material via Facebook on August 3, 2023, to the father of his girlfriend, triggering a cyber tipline report to law enforcement from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Following the cyber tip, Missouri State Highway Patrol investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Watters’ home on September 28, 2023. During the search, Watters admitted to searching for and viewing child pornography. Investigators also uncovered communication records between Watters and his girlfriend’s father, identified as 55-year-old Brandel Lee Akers of St. Francois County.
Law enforcement authorities were informed by Akers that Watters had been sending him child sexual abuse material for approximately one year via text message and Facebook.
In connection to the case, Akers previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to five years in prison.Watters, who is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, faces a recommended sentence of 12 years in prison, as requested by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is leading the prosecution.
