A Jefferson County jury found Kevin Paul Coplin, 47, of Pevely guilty of first-degree child molestation, a class B felony that carries a penalty of five to 15 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 6, according to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Coplin had been charged in January 2023 with three counts of first-degree attempted sodomy; three counts of first-degree child molestation; and first-degree harassment, according to court documents. The trial was held May 14-15.
Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Shannon O’Neal prosecuted the case.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued the charges after Herculaneum Police completed the investigation, court records show.
Two girls told investigators Coplin sexually abused them multiple times during a seven-year period. The girls were younger than 14, the case’s probable-cause statement said.
The alleged victims also said Coplin sent them a series of text messages on Dec. 16, 2021. One of the text messages said, “your guys (expletive) is going is going to kill me,” and another message said, “I loaded a gun, I can’t believe this (expletive) so I’m done because after stuff said like that if unforgivable,” the report said.
The probable-cause statement also said Coplin sent a message the same day threatening to sue the alleged victim.
Coplin allegedly told investigators he did not recall inappropriately touching one of the victims, and he allegedly said he did have a loaded gun and threatened to kill himself, the report said.