St. Francois County Man Admits Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material Involving Two Victims

ST. LOUIS - A man from St. Francois County, Missouri on Monday admitted producing child sexual abuse material involving two underage girls.

Richard James Miller, 41, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to two counts of production of child pornography. On more than five occasions, Miller recorded his sexual abuse of the two juveniles. One victim told investigators that Miller began engaging in sex acts with her when she was 15. The other said she began spending time in his apartment when she was 8 or 9 years old.

Homeland Security Investigations learned of Miller in 2024, when the court-approved search of a New Jersey man's home uncovered Kik messenger chats with Miller that included images constituting child sexual abuse material. Investigators then spoke with Miller, who admitted engaging in sex acts with young girls at his home in the past, including the older victim. He also admitted exchanging sexually explicit photos with that victim.

Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4. The production of child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years, with a maximum of 30 years.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.