Melissa Jackson, 45, formerly of House Springs, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for drugging and sexually exploiting a young girl, according to court records.
On Sept. 20, Jackson pleaded guilty to three counts of felony sexual exploitation of a child and one count of felony first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. That same day Jefferson County Div. 4 Circuit Judge Brenda Stacey sentenced Jackson to 24 years for each of the exploitation of a child charges and 10 years for the endangerment of a child charge. All the terms are to be served concurrently, or at the same time, court documents show.
The incidents occurred in November 2019 when Jackson and William Jackson, formerly of Pevely, produced and shared at least 10 images of sexual abuse involving the victim, a girl who was younger than 10 years old at the time. Melissa Jackson is not related to William Jackson but the two were involved in a romantic relationship, the probable-cause statement in the case said.
Melissa Jackson, who previously worked in child care and as a nurse, drugged the victim, took photographs of the victim’s genitals and took pornographic photographs of William Jackson with the victim, according to court records and police reports.
On Sept. 15, 2021, Melissa Jackson was sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison for her role in the child’s abuse, and that term also will be served concurrently with the 24 year sentence she received in the Jefferson County Circuit Court, court papers show.
William Jackson was arrested following an FBI sting in April 2020 when he traveled to Illinois to engage in sexual acts with an undercover officer he believed was a 10-year-old girl, according to his plea agreement.
On Dec. 15, 2021, William Jackson, who was 46 at the time, was sentenced in federal court to 25 years in prison for producing child pornography.