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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
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Child Molester Gets 120 Years

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (CN) - A recidivist child molester was sentenced to 120 years in federal prison for kidnapping a 5-year-old girl and forcing her to make pornography.

Jeffrey D. Shelton, 46, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was sentenced for attempted production of child pornography, production of child pornography and possession of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Poplar Bluff, pop. 17,029, is 150 miles south of St. Louis.

Shelton admitted that he fled his house with the girl after abducting her on Oct. 24, 2012.

A neighbor saw Shelton assault his girlfriend that night and called police. When police arrived, the girlfriend gave them Shelton's cell phone, on which police found several videos of the girl engaged in sexually explicit acts.

Police also found photos of another victim, a 10-year-old girl.

Prosecutors say Shelton tried to produce sexually explicit videos of the 10-year-old, and threatened both victims with physical harm.

Shelton admitted that had more than 200 pictures of child pornography on a laptop that was found in his vehicle when he was arrested.

Shelton previously appeared at an Army court-martial in Fort Hood, Texas and was found guilty of raping a child younger than 16.

Shelton spent more than 20 years in prison for that offense, The Associated Press reported.

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