Webb City man, 51, sentenced to 13 years in prison for having sex with high school student

A federal judge sentenced Ricky Raymond Ball, 51, Webb City, to 13 years in prison for having sex with a 16-year-old Webb City High School student

A federal grand jury indicted Ball in 2017 and he pleaded guilty February 2.

Ball's crimes were detailed in a plea agreement filed February 2 in the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri: 

On January 24, 2015, Jasper County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office Corporal Alvin Peavler took a report from J.H. J.H. stated he had found text messages on 16-year-old Jane Doe’s cell phone, between her and the defendant, Ricky Ball. 

The messages were in the fashion of "I love you" and calling each other "baby." Cpl. Peavler seized the phone, an iPhone 4, with consent from J.H. 

On February 5, 2015, J.H. found Jane Doe to be in possession of another phone, a Samsung, and turned the phone over to law enforcement with consent to search. On February 4, 2015, Webb City, Missouri, Police Department responded to the Webb City High School. Jane Doe was on the parking lot standing next to a car with Ball in the driver’s seat. Ball stated he was there to see Jane Doe because he had been unable to communicate with her for some time because of a conflict with J.H. 

On February 5 and 6, 2015, Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force (SMCCTF) Officer (TFO) James Smith completed a forensic examination of both cell phones provided by J.H. Multiple messages between Jane Doe and Ball were located, as well as photographs of the two of them together (Jane Doe listed Ball as “Isaac Walters” in her phone). 

Messages such as the following were located on Jane Doe’s Facebook Application: 1/21/15 from Ball, “Okay baby, call me ... I love you with all of my heart and soul forever and always my beautiful angel O:)  "I hope you have a good night, get lots of rest, and a great day tomorrow. Sweet dreams my love so long for now and meet you in our cabin my love. <3 i="" nbsp="">

In response from Jane Doe, “I love you with all my heart and soul too baby ❤forever and always. I hope you have the same. Sweet dreams and so long for now baby meet you in out cabin❤❤❤.” 

On an cell phone application called “Wait For It,” Jane Doe had a countdown labeled, “Day I can Move Out and Be With Rick!!!!.” Jane Doe also had the “Tried It” cell phone application, which listed the different sexual positions she had tried already. There were multiple messages back and forth, between Jane Doe and Ball, that were sexual in nature. 

On March 23, 2015, Webb City Police Department took a runaway report from J.H. in regards to Jane Doe. On March 26, 2015, the Kansas State Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle being driven by Ball in Ellsworth County, Kansas. Jane Doe was located in the vehicle with Ball. Ball’s cell phone, an LG, was seized by law enforcement. 

On June 29, 2015, FBI Interviewer Rachel Happel conducted a forensic interview with Jane Doe. Jane Doe disclosed she and Ball had engaged in vaginal and oral sex between December of 2014, and March of 2015. 

Jane Doe stated she left with Ball, and they were going to start their lives together. Jane Doe confirmed that she and Ball had communicated via the cell phone. 

On August 12, 2015, SMCCTF TFO Williams interviewed Ball, post-Miranda, at the Jasper County, Missouri, Jail. Ball stated he was going through a non-sexual, emotional affair with Jane Doe. Ball claimed they never had sex, but they did discuss having kids and living in the mountains. 

Ball stated there was kissing, hugging, and dating, but that was all, no sex. Ball stated that all the messages and “talk” was romantic role-play. Ball admitted to taking Jane Doe across state lines."