PHELPS COUNTY, Mo. — A former Phelps County deputy could face at least 15 years in prison if found guilty of the child sex exploitation and child sexual abuse material charges he is facing.
Justin Durham is accused of sexual exploitation of children, possessing child sexual abuse material and destroying records charges in a case investigated by the FBI and Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Durham allegedly enticed an underage girl to engage in sexual acts and recorded it between Dec. 2013 and Dec. 2014, court records show. He also allegedly did the same with a second underage girl he met while responding to a call for police assistance between Dec. 9, 2017 and July 2, 2018. Durham reportedly deleted the files and destroyed his iPhone to impede the FBI's investigation.
The Phelps County Sheriff's Department said in August the investigation was started after a tip was received about suspected child sexual abuse material on his device. The sheriff's department said Durham was fired due to the felony charge.
Durham is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Count in St. Louis on Friday, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Missouri - St. Louis.
“Sworn officers who taint the badge are the exception and not the rule," said Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division. "One of the FBI’s priorities is to root out the few to protect victims and the public’s trust in law enforcement.”
Additional women have reportedly come forward with allegations against Durham, including him demanding sex or nude images after making traffic stops, the FBI said. Anyone with any information regarding Durham could contact the FBI at 314-589-2500.
If a victim of abuse is ever uncomfortable with making a report on an officer to the officer's department, the victim can contact the FBI directly.
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