Show-Me State Times

A man from St. Charles, Missouri, Ronald C. Lawrence, 25, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to disturbing charges related to child pornography. According to reports, Lawrence admitted to sexually abusing two young girls for years, starting when one of them was just 7 years old. He confessed to recording the abuse and sharing the images online, as well as downloading and possessing child sexual abuse material.

The investigation into Lawrence began after multiple electronic service providers reported suspicious activity to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The case involved platforms such as Dropbox, Instagram, and Google. Additionally, a third girl came forward and disclosed that Lawrence had touched her inappropriately in 2022. Her abuse reportedly ceased when she physically defended herself against him.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson, who is prosecuting the case, is seeking a significant sentence for Lawrence. The plea agreement indicates that Anderson will request a 35-year prison term for the defendant, whose sentencing is scheduled for June 21.

The FBI, the St. Charles County Police Department, and the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force collaborated on the investigation. The seriousness of the case underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation and abuse in our communities.