William Jackson, 46, of Pevely has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for producing child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Jackson was sentenced Dec. 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 31 to working with former nurse Melissa Jackson, 43, of House Springs to produce pornographic pictures and to sexually abuse and drug a girl younger than 8 years old, the plea agreement said.
The abuse occurred in November 2019, when William and Melissa Jackson produced and shared at least 10 images of sexual abuse involving the girl. In addition, Melissa Jackson discussed dosing the child with melatonin during the abuse, according to the plea agreement.
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 Sept. 15, Melissa Jackson was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the child’s abuse, court records show.
Before she worked as a nurse, Melissa Jackson worked in the childcare field, according to a letter her sister wrote as a character witness in the case.
William and Melissa Jackson also face felony charges for their conduct in Jefferson County.
William Jackson has been charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and first-degree child molestation, all class A felonies punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison, according to court documents.
Melissa Jackson has been charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and first-degree child molestation, all class A felonies, and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, a class C felony punishable by three to 10 years in prison.