Show-Me State Times

U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White has sentenced Kyle J. Gipson, 23, of Jefferson County, to 30 years in prison for recording his sexual abuse of a toddler. Judge White also ordered Gipson to pay a $5,000 assessment for victims and prevention programs.

According to his guilty plea, Gipson was involved in a social media group focused on child sexual abuse material, bestiality, and rape. He possessed child sexual abuse material involving a 2-year-old victim and discussed his actions on social media.

An undercover FBI agent discovered Gipson's activities in an online group dedicated to child sexual abuse. Gipson communicated with the agent, sending pictures of the victim and offering access for further abuse. He was arrested after a search of his home in March 2023.

Gipson pleaded guilty to one felony count of production of child pornography in November. The case was investigated by the FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department Special Investigations Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuting.

The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online, as well as identify and rescue victims.