Jessica Ann Young, 33, of Kansas City, Missouri, pled guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of juveniles in federal court. The case is noteworthy because of the gravity of the crimes and the involvement of her husband, Houston Wade Young, who pleaded guilty to similar charges. Young was involved in a number of incidents, including mailing pornographic photographs of a youngster and committing sexual abuse. On March 5, 2020, her husband was discovered with a cell phone carrying child pornography photos. She transmitted pornographic photographs of a 7-year-old boy to Houston's phone before confessing to sexually abusing another 13-year-old child. She also shot recordings of herself performing these behaviors. Jessica Ann Young faces harsh federal penalties, including a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison without parole and a possible life sentence. This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a US Department of Justice project aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Jessica Young. 2 Autographed Postcards, Signed. Handwritten, 5.5 × 8.5. October 28, 2024. Springfield, MO.
Overview of Jessica Ann Young’s Case
Jessica Ann Young, a 33-year-old woman from Kansas City, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. Specifically, she admitted to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in federal court. This case is significant due to the nature of the crimes and the involvement of her husband, Houston Wade Young, who also pleaded guilty to similar charges.
Details of the Charges
According to the information provided, Jessica Young was involved in a disturbing series of events that included sending pornographic images of a child and engaging in sexual abuse. The timeline reveals that on March 5, 2020, while her husband was incarcerated at Vernon County Jail, he was found with a cell phone containing images of child pornography. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement discovered that Jessica had sent pornographic images of a 7-year-old boy (referred to as “John Doe 1”) to Houston’s phone.
The investigation uncovered text messages between Jessica and Houston discussing their intentions regarding John Doe 1. Furthermore, Jessica admitted to sexually abusing another child victim (identified as “John Doe 2”), who was 13 years old at the time. She confessed not only to multiple instances of abuse but also to recording videos of herself engaging in these acts.
Legal Consequences
Under federal law, Jessica Ann Young faces severe penalties for her actions. Each count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison without parole and could extend up to 30 years for each count. Given the gravity of her offenses and their impact on vulnerable children, sentencing will be determined by the court based on various factors including advisory sentencing guidelines.
Her husband, Houston Wade Young, has prior felony convictions related to child exploitation and faces even harsher penalties due to his history. He is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years in federal prison without parole and could potentially receive a life sentence. Houston Wade Young, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to life in federal prison without parole.
Project Safe Childhood Initiative
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse across the nation. The program seeks to utilize resources from federal, state, and local agencies to locate offenders and protect victims.
In summary, Jessica Ann Young has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation involving minors, with serious legal repercussions expected as she awaits sentencing.
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