Dexter man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

A Dexter, Mo., man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Cape Girardeau to child pornography charges related to him allegedly exploiting a teenage relative by taking nude videos of her.

Michael Lee Wilson, 37, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Wilson originally was indicted on two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to amended charges, which had the same possession charge and an additional possession charge, according to assistant federal prosecutor Abbie Crites-Leoni.

Limbaugh set sentencing for March 9. At that time, Wilson faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison on each count and a $250,000 fine, followed by a period of supervised release of life.

The charges against Wilson stem from an investigation by the Dexter Police Department, which began when officers received a call concerning the alleged sexual abuse of a then 16-year-old female from a relative of the girl, said Dexter police Det. Trevor Pulley said at the time of Wilson's arrest Nov. 8, 2010.

When contacted by police, the teen confirmed Wilson had taken nude videos of her on his bed, Pulley said.

Wilson consented to a search of his cellphone and a video camera, Pulley said, and forensic analysis of the equipment revealed the items contained images of a minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

After his arrest, Pulley said, Wilson admitted to videotaping the teen nude using his cellphone and DVD camcorder.

Pertinent address:

Dexter, MO