Joplin man appeals child pornography conviction

A Joplin man with a prior sex conviction is appealing the 15-year sentenced he was handed in federal court October 1.

Delbert C. Feezell, 56, filed his notice of appeal today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.


Judge Beth Phillips sentenced Feezell to 17 years and six months in prison with parole and ordered him to pay $1,000 in restitution to one of his victims. Feezell had previously been convicted for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old and for indecent exposure.

From the news release from the U. S. Attorney:

The investigation began on Nov. 20, 2015, when Feezell uploaded a video of child pornography to YouTube, which was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Feezell uploaded additional images of child pornography to another website on April 7, 2016, after which a search warrant was executed at his residence. 

Investigators seized a laptop computer that contained 785 video files and five images of child pornography. The depictions include children as young as toddlers being sexually assaulted by adult males. Feezell engaged in his illegal activities using his unwitting neighbor’s internet service.