JOPLIN, Mo. —
A Joplin man will serve 50 years in federal prison plus face sentencing on state charges after pleading guilty Thursday in federal court to using a 4-year-old girl to produce pornography.
Jason Dewayne Beshears, 30, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Springfield to eight counts of producing child pornography.
In the plea, Beshears admitted to exploiting a minor child on Aug. 28, 2010, and seven times between May 5 and Aug. 9, 2011, to make pornographic videos of the child.
Authorities said the activity was discovered about 10 p.m. Aug. 9, 2011, when a Joplin man called the Joplin Police Department to report that he had found his 4-year-old daughter in a bedroom being photographed by Beshears behind a closed door. The father took the girl from the room and returned to confront Beshears, but Beshears was gone.
Police found Beshears a block down the street attempting to flee in a taxi, authorities said.
Beshears admitted to police that he had sexually assaulted the child and had previously filmed sexual assaults of the girl.
Search warrants later were obtained for two computers, a cellphone and a digital camera belonging to Beshears.
Charges involving the sexual assault were filed in Jasper County Circuit Court. Under the federal plea agreement, Beshears will plead guilty to statutory rape and sodomy, and agree to a state prison sentence of life.
The affidavit accompanying the state’s charges cited 10 videos filmed at two addresses in Joplin. The document alleged that Beshears molests the girl in four of the videos, sodomizes her in three others and rapes her in the final three, including the last one when her father comes into the room and discovers the crime.
A sentencing date in the federal case is to be set by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr.
Federal authorities said the federal and state sentences will be ordered to run concurrently.
Crime & Courts
Joplin man pleads guilty to child porn charges
- Crime & Courts
-
-
State’s key witness testifies in murder trial
The fate of Dustin Boggs may ultimately depend on the credibility of Arturo Council. If jurors believe Council, then Boggs, 25, could be convicted of first-degree murder in the 2012 stabbing and shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Danyel Borden, 21, at his trial this week in Ottawa County District Court.
-
Witness describes death of Danyel Borden in second day of murder trial for Dustin Boggs
Arturo Council described for a jury today how Dustin Boggs attacked and killed Danyel Borden a year ago on an Ottawa County road.
-
Police warning of men posing as utility workers
The Joplin Police Department issued a warning Monday regarding reports of one or more impostors showing up at the doors of elderly residents and pretending to be Empire District Electric Co. employees checking on circuit breaker boxes.
-
New Mexico man draws prison term in Joplin child-rape case
A 59-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to sexual abuse of a developmentally disabled 8-year-old girl in Joplin. Robert L. Newton pleaded guilty in Jasper County Circuit Court to first-degree statutory rape, first-degree statutory sodomy and felony failure to appear in court in a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office.
-
Alcohol, speed suspected factors in fatal crash Saturday
The driver in a double-fatality accident Saturday in Joplin is suspected of having been intoxicated and speeding at almost twice the posted limit. He may also have been attempting a trick-driving maneuver, according to a probable-cause affidavit.
-
Former disaster relief worker, others indicted for fraud following Joplin tornado
A federal grand jury has indicted a former employee of the Economic Security Corp. in Joplin, her boyfriend and a third alleged conspirator in connection with the defrauding of the government via tornado relief funds. A sealed, three-count indictment was returned June 11 in U.S. District Court in Springfield against Herlana L. Latham, 31, and Christopher L. Smith, 36, both of Memphis, Tenn., and John L. Williams, 30, of Cairo, Ill. T
-
Wounded driver in police shooting charged
A suspect accused of trying to run down two Joplin police officers with a sport utility vehicle early Sunday was winged in an arm and hand when the officers shot at him in response, police said. Brandon J. Knoderer, 32, underwent surgery Monday at a Joplin hospital to remove bullet fragments from his right arm and left hand.
-
Crash in Joplin claims two lives; charges being sought on driver
Two people were killed and a third occupant injured in a single-vehicle crash early today in Joplin, resulting in manslaughter charges being sought against the driver.
-
Two area men die as result of crash injuries
A Lamar man died of injuries sustained in a single-vehicle accident at 10:05 p.m. Thursday on Route T, four miles southeast of Lamar in Barton County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
-
Judge orders trial for infant’s mother; woman faces manslaughter charge
A judge has ruled that an Arma woman should be tried on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, and not murder, in the death of her 4-month-old baby. District Judge A.J. Wachter ordered Heather L. Buckalew, 25, bound over for trial on the manslaughter charge at the conclusion of a hearing this week in Crawford County District Court in Pittsburg.
- More Crime & Courts Headlines
-
State’s key witness testifies in murder trial
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
