Change of plea hearing set for Sarcoxie man on child sexual exploitation charges

A change of plea hearing is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. February 13 in U. S. District Court in Springfield for a Sarcoxie man charged with two counts of sexually exploitation of a child.

Brian Florian-Palma, 43, is already serving a 15-year sentence on federal meth trafficking and weapons charges. The plea hearing was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed due to the weather.

According to the indictment, which was handed down October 1, 2019, Florian-Palma coerced a 14-year-old girl into "sexually explicit conduct and producing child pornography."

A judge sentenced Florian-Palma on the meth and weapons charges October 11 in Springfield.

Those crimes were detailed in a detention motion filed January 28, 2021:

The present charge arises from Defendant’s sale of approximately 86 grams of suspected methamphetamine to an undercover officer on December 20, 2018.

Additional controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Defendant were attempted or completed.

On January 9, 2019, an undercover officer arranged to purchase two pounds of methamphetamine from Defendant. Defendant travelled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to secure the methamphetamine but was unable to obtain it that day.

On December 14, 2018, an undercover officer purchased approximately one ounce of suspected methamphetamine from Defendant for $500.

On December 24, 2018, officers of the Carthage, Missouri, Police Department made contact with Defendant and found him in possession of a loaded .357 magnum revolver. A further search of Defendant’s person yielded approximately two ounces of suspected methamphetamine. An additional one ounce was discovered in his vehicle.

On January 16, 2019, troopers of the Missouri State Highway Patrol executed a search warrant at Defendant’s residence in Sarcoxie, Missouri. Among other things, troopers found digital scales and unused plastic bags. Three bags containing suspected methamphetamine residue were also recovered.

Court records indicate Defendant has previously been convicted of the following offenses:

-Unlawful use of drug paraphernalia on July 30, 2015, in Jasper County;

Felony driving while impaired (persistent offender) on September 30, 2013, in Jasper County; and

Driving with an excessive blood alcohol concentration on August 16, 2009, in Jasper County.

Moreover, law enforcement records suggest Defendant has previously been arrested for the following offenses:

-Domestic assault on December 12, 2015, in Jasper County, Missouri; and second degree domestic assault on January 21, 2007, in Jasper County, Missouri.

Missouri court records indicate Defendant was charged with delivery of a controlled substance on or about August 23, 2018, in Jasper County, and the charge remains pending.