Licking, Mo. man pleads guilty to child sexual exploitation, meth trafficking and firearms charges (DOJ)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Licking, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday for the sexual exploitation of a minor as well as illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms.

John P. Weaver, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton to using a minor victim to produce child pornography and receiving and distributing child pornography from Jan. 22 to Feb. 5, 2024. Weaver admitted to possessing more than 20 photos and videos depicting child pornography of the minor victim.

Weaver also pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms on Feb. 29, 2024. Weaver admitted to possessing over 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and two Hi-Point pistols.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Weaver has two prior convictions for possessing a controlled substance as well as prior felony convictions for stealing a motor vehicle, burglary, stealing, and resisting arrest by creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any person.

Under federal statutes, Weaver is subject to a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years maximum in federal prison without parole for his conviction for sexual exploitation of children. He is also facing a minimum of 10 years on his conviction for possession with intent to distribute and a minimum of five years for his conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, which must run consecutively to any other sentence.

The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pulaski County, Missouri Sheriff's Office, the Springfield, Missouri Police Department, and the Texas County, Missouri Sheriff's Office.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."