Friday, August 10, 2018

North Carolina man sentenced to life in prison for sexual exploitation of Joplin child

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A North Carolina man was sentenced in federal court today for the sexual exploitation of a child in Joplin, Mo.

David Lee Perkins, 34, of Winston-Salem, N.C., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to life in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Perkins to pay $6,325 in restitution to his victim.

On Jan. 18, 2018, Perkins was found guilty following a bench trial of crossing state lines into Missouri with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a child victim under the age of 12 from April 16, 2014, to Dec. 11, 2016.

Additionally, Perkins had already pleaded guilty on Jan. 3, 2018, to two additional counts contained in the Jan. 18, 2017, federal indictment. Perkins admitted that he used the child victim to produce child pornography and that he distributed child pornography.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ami Harshad Miller and Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, and the Newton, N.C., Police Department.

From the January 18. Turner Report

Perkins' crimes were detailed in the probable cause affidavit filed December 13 in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

On December 11, 2016, Joplin Police Department officer David Piercy was dispatched to Towneplace Suites motel located at 4026 South Arizona Avenue. Upon arrival, Angela Johnson reported that David Lee Perkins had been molesting 11-year-old Jane Doe. Johnson told Officer Piercy that Perkins was in room 120. As officers attempted to make contact with Perkins in room 120, Johnson showed Piercy a tablet that Johnson stated had a video of Jane Doe being molested. Johnson was asked to remain in the lobby.

While knocking on the door, Perkins told officers he would be a minute because he was using the bathroom. Officers waited and continued to knock. Officer Piercy heard sounds from inside the room, indicating to him that Perkins was moving around in the room. Johnson told officers that Perkins may have knives in the room. Officer Piercy retrieved the master key from motel management and made entry into the room. Officer Piercy was able to locate and detain Perkins.

After Perkins was detained, JPD Corporal Brett Koehler made contact with Johnson. Johnson told Cpl, Koehler that Perkins had been molesting Jane Doe and showed him a video she found on an iPad. Cpl. Koehler was able to view the video, which depicted a white male (committing a sex act on Jane Doe).

 While watching the video, Cpl. Koehler asked Johnson who the iPad belonged to and Johnson stated it belonged to Perkins. Cpl. Koehler closed the iPad and seized it as evidence. Cpl. Koehler did not attempt to view or open the iPad again once it was known it belonged to Perkins.

Johnson told Cpl. Koehler that she and Perkins were not dating, but she was attempting to date him. Perkins lives in North Carolina, but he often came to Joplin and visited with her. When Perkins came to Joplin he would stay at hotels or motels, including the Towneplace Suites. While Perkins was out in the parking lot with Jane Doe and another minor, Johnson looked through Perkins' iPad to see what type of pictures he had been sending and receiving. Johnson stated she located three videos of of Perkins sexually abusing Jane Doe.

Perkins was placed under arrest for child molestation and was transported to the Joplin City Jail.

On December 12, 2016, Cyber Crimes Task Force Officer (Charles) Root made contact with Perkins at the Joplin City Jail. TFO Root advised Perkins of his rights under Miranda and Perkins signed a waiver form and agreed to speak with TFO Root.

Perkins stated that he was arrested the previous night because of videos that had been found by Johnson on his iPad. Perkins admitted to TFO Root that he had been sexually abusing Jane Doe for approximately one year.

Perkins that he had sexualliy abused Jane Doe in various hotels and motels in Joplin. Perkins stated he last sexually abused Jane Doe on December 10, 2016. Perkins stated he used his iPad and iPhone to photograph and create videos of the sexually explicit conduct he engaged in with Jane Doe.

TFO Root requested written consent to search his iPhone and iPad, which Perkins granted.

A preliminary preview on Perkins' Apple iPad conducted by Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force TFO Larry Roller revealed three video files depicting Perkins engaging in sexually explicit conduct with Jane Doe.

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