FARMINGTON, Mo. — A former St. Francois County sheriff's deputy and his wife were charged Friday after authorities said they plotted to sexually exploit a minor.
David K. Blankenship, 39, and his wife Karlie Blankenship, 28, were charged with one count each of first-degree attempted sexual trafficking of a child and attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, court documents said. Both were arrested following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control.
According to MSHP, investigators received information in March 2024 that a social media account associated with David Blankenship had uploaded a video on TikTok of suspected child sexual abuse. A St. Francois County search warrant found the account was used by David and he was communicating with his wife Karlie. The two were having "sexually themed conversations" via TikTok direct message, shared videos of young girls they found attractive and discussed their sexual desires involving children under 14 and "how to locate children that are local," court documents said.
The conversations investigators found "support the belief the pair were actively planning to sexually traffic a child and use that child in a sexual performance," MSHP said. Another search warrant at Blankenship's Farmington home found additional evidence.
David was working with the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department and was fired after the command staff was made aware of the allegations, a release from the department said.
"The sheriff’s department is shocked and saddened by the nature of the allegations against this former employee and co-worker," a statement from the department said. "The department will continue assisting the DDCC in any way possible to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion."
David Blankenship is being held at the Ste. Genevieve County Jail and Karlie Blankenship at the Jefferson County Jail, both without bond.
Victim resources
If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of child sexual exploitation, call 911 immediately or report it using this online form.
The National Center of Missing and Exploited Children's free Take It Down service helps victims remove or stop the sharing of nude, partially nude or explicit content taken while under the age of 18. Click here to learn more.
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