Springfield Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexual Exploitation of Two Child Victims

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Springfield, Mo., man who sexually exploited two child victims was sentenced in federal court today.

Connor Wilson Zacha, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 30 years in federal prison without parole, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Zacha received 30-year sentences for two counts of child exploitation with both sentences running concurrently. Zacha will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

According to court documents, Zacha, who pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2025, used a minor, identified as Jane Doe 1, to produce child pornography from Nov. 1, 2022, to Nov. 15, 2023. Zacha also used another minor, identified as Jane Doe 2, to produce child pornography from Oct. 1, 2023, to April 18, 2024. Zacha's cellular device contained images of both Jane Doe 1 and 2, and sexually explicit images and videos of Jane Doe 2, including video of Zach and Jane Doe 2 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Greene County, Missouri Sheriff's Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."