The former youth minister at a Joplin church pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge.
During a hearing this morning in U. S. District Court in Springfield, Judge David P. Rush ordered a pre-sentence investigation for Nicholas Lane Stephens, 25. No date has been set for sentencing.
As part of his plea agreement, a second charge, sexual exploitation of a child, will be dismissed.
Stephens' crimes were detailed in the agreement:
On January 7, 2020, Missouri Children's Division (CD) investigator Charles Richmond contacted Joplin Police Department Det. Wes Massey to report CD received a hotline call regarding Nicholas Lane Stephens, the defendant, a youth minister at a church located in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. The hotline caller stated that Stephens was involved in inappropriate relationships with minor females at the church, including 17-year-old Jane Doe.
On January 7, 2020, Det. Massey spoke with Jane Doe. Jane Doe reported that Stephens was a youth minister at her church. Jane Doe stated that Stephens began making comments about her body and how he would like to see "other" parts of her.
Jane Doe stated she sent nude images to Stephens via Snap Chat in December 2019. Stephens also sent Jane Doe several images of his erect penis. Jane Doe said Stephens also sent FaceTime videos of himself masturbating. Jane Doe provided consent to search her Apple iPhone 6.
On January 8, 2020, Det. Massey made contact with Stephens in the parking lot of Stephens' place of employment in Joplin, Missouri. The two spoke outside Stephens' vehicle. Stephens explained that the church had told him he had violated a policy regarding having contact with students. Det. Massey seized Stephens' cellular telephone, an Apple iPhone XR.
On January 14, 2020, Homeland Security Investigation Task Force Officer (TFO) Larry Roller conducted a forensic examination of Stephens' cellular telephone. The examination revealed 12 selfie-type images and one video of Jane Doe, that is a child less than 18 years of age engaged in sexually explicit conduct. There were also numerous messages located between Jane Doe and Stephens.
On February 10, 2020, Federal Bureau of Investigation TFO Charles Root conducted a video-recorded interview with Stephens at the Joplin, Missouri City Jail. Stephens had been arrested on the underlying state charges.
Post-Miranda, Stephens admitted to sending nude images of himself to Jane Doe. He further admitted to receiving nude images of Jane Doe and knowing that she was less than 18 years old.
Saint Paul's in Joplin is where he went, by the way. He played guitar there in the band for years and worked with youth.
ReplyDeleteWon't be long until he's at another church. Xtians love hiring these pedos
ReplyDeleteYes, Any One Who Hurts or Abuses any Child - - Should Spend the Rest of their Lives in Jail. These Pedophiles are not Just in Churches, but can be in our Schools, Medical Field, Etc., Etc., - If you have Read any just a Few of the Local Stories - - How many Teachers are Seducing their Students or how a Local Doctor was Caught abusing Children - - They are everywhere - these Sick / Perverted Individuals and they have been under our noses forever - - so just beware of who you Trust with your Children...
ReplyDelete