A Missouri man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig after being convicted of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. The accused, Rayford Evans, aged 52, from Doniphan in Ripley County, was found guilty following a one-day bench trial in January.
Evidence presented in court demonstrated that Evans used his cell phone to record a 15-year-old girl in a compromising setting. The victim discovered the device while bathing and reached out to a friend, whose father, along with her own, subsequently informed the Doniphan City Police Department. Their investigation revealed three videos of the minor on Evans' cell phone, which he had attempted to erase.
During the trial, further allegations emerged with another victim testifying to her abuse by Evans. There was also evidence indicating he had recorded another minor. At the sentencing hearing, three individuals testified about their experiences being sexually abused by Evans.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter remarked in her sentencing memo that "Evans has sexually exploited children for decades" and noted his use of bribes—such as electronics, toys, and candy—to gain the trust of children for exploitation. A letter from one of the victims described Evans as a predator who has "hunted children, for his depraved sexual appetite, for at least 26 years."
Evans has denied the allegations related to other victims.
The FBI and Doniphan City Police Department conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter handling prosecution. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started in 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.