Joseph Lee Hembrough, 34, and Jessica D. Hembrough, 31, formerly of High Ridge, were recently sentenced to prison for sexually molesting a young girl. Joseph Hembrough was sentenced to 16 years, and Jessica Hembrough was sentenced to 10 years after they both pleaded guilty to molesting the girl, who was 8 years old when the abuse began, according to court records.
The molestation occurred numerous times between Aug. 1, 2013, and June 30, 2015, in High Ridge. Both the man and the woman had sexual contact with the girl, the probable-cause statement said.
Joseph Hembrough said he and Jessica were “high” when the incidents occurred. He also said the two forced the young girl to watch pornography, the statement said.
Joseph Hembrough pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree statutory sodomy and two counts of first-degree child molestation, all felonies, and on Aug. 24, Jefferson County Div. 4 Circuit Judge Mark T. Stoll sentenced him 16 years for the sodomy charge and 15 years each for the two molestation charges. The three sentences will be served concurrently, or at the same time, court documents show.
That 16 years also will be served concurrent with a four-year prison term he was sentenced to in June 2015 for driving with a revoked driver’s license, the report said.
Jessica Hembrough pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree child molestation and one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, both felonies, and on Oct. 10, Stoll sentenced her to 10 years for the molestation charge and seven years for the endangerment charge, and she will serve the terms concurrently.
Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Marie Pudlowski handled the cases.
Joseph Hembrough currently is in the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. Jessica Hembrough is in the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia.