Washington County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse, Child Exploitation Charges

Washington Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A Washington County, Missouri man has pleaded guilty to federal charges involving the sexual abuse of a minor and the solicitation of child sexual abuse material.

41-year-old William R. Murphy entered the guilty plea Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of production of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. According to court documents, Murphy admitted to engaging in sexual contact with a juvenile victim when she was between the ages of 13 and 17. His plea agreement states that Murphy also threatened the victim at times in order to coerce her into providing images that constitute child sexual abuse material. Murphy is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2026.

Both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Murphy’s defense attorney have agreed to recommend a sentence of 27 years in federal prison.