Couple accused of possessing child porn

A Benton, Missouri, couple was arrested Tuesday and charged with possession of child pornography.

Clayton D. Counts, 67, is charged with possession of child pornography and unlawful possession of a firearm, both class C felonies. Judith E. Gray, 58, was charged with felony possession of child pornography.

Deputies from the Scott County Sheriff’s Department and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives served a search warrant at Counts’ residence at 99 Sandown Park in Benton, based on information from an investigation of Counts on allegations of child molestation and sexual assault, according to a probable-cause report by Scott County Sheriff’s detective Branden Caid.

During the search, investigators found a picture of a child younger than 18 years old in a sexually explicit pose, Caid wrote. The victim in the photograph confirmed the picture was taken when she was a junior in high school. In the photo, the victim wore her class ring, Caid wrote.

The victim said Counts sexually assaulted her multiple times and that Gray, Counts’ longtime girlfriend, held the door shut in at least one instance during assaults so Counts would not be interrupted, according to the statement.

Judith E. Gray

Caid said he plans to recommend charges related to the molestation allegations later this week.

Counts was convicted for murder in 1988, according to the news release, and was listed as a sex offender because of the sexual assault of an underage girl in 1986 in Tampa, Florida, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s sex-offender registry.

Counts also pleaded guilty to failing to register as a sex offender Jan. 24, 2013, receiving a sentence of five years of supervised probation.

He also faces a felony charge of failing to register as a sex offender, according to court records. Counts’ attorney filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss the case under the auspices Counts was not required to register in Florida because that state’s sexual-predator law was not enacted until 1993, according to court records.

A shotgun and ammunition were at Counts’ residence, and he admitted to firing the weapon, according to a Scott County Sheriff’s Department new release.

Counts’ bail was set at $25,000, cash only. Gray’s bail was set at $5,000, cash only. Both were in custody at the Scott County Jail.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

99 Sandown Park, Benton, Mo.