Former Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Cell Phone Searches

Cape Girardeau, Mo. (KFMO) - A former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper has pleaded guilty to federal charges after admitting he unlawfully searched women’s cell phones during traffic stops in an effort to find nude photographs.

40-year-old David McKnight entered a guilty plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to nine counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. The charges stem from incidents that occurred between September 12, 2023, and July 30, 2024. According to court documents, McKnight admitted to unlawfully searching and seizing photographs from the cell phones of seven women and unlawfully searching the phones of two additional women. At the time of the incidents, McKnight was on duty, in uniform, and driving a marked Missouri State Highway Patrol vehicle. Federal prosecutors say McKnight took cell phones from five women during separate traffic stops, claiming he needed to verify identification or insurance information, and carried the phones back to his patrol car.

In another incident, he arrested a woman and took possession of her phone during the arrest. He also encountered victims following a traffic accident, a vehicle breakdown, and a report of a careless driver. Authorities say McKnight searched the women’s phones without a warrant or probable cause, specifically looking for nude images of the victims or their loved ones. In some cases, he used his own cell phone to photograph images he found on their devices. After two of the victims became suspicious of McKnight’s actions, they reported the incidents to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. A forensic analysis later confirmed McKnight had accessed folders containing nude photographs.

A subsequent investigation uncovered evidence involving the additional victims. McKnight is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24, 2026.