Missouri Child Pornography Laws

Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 573: Pornography and Related Offenses

• 573.020 – Wholesale promotion or possession of material depicting sexually explicit conduct for minors
• 573.023 – Sexual exploitation of a minor by taking photos, filming, or creating child porn
• 573.025 – Promoting or intending to promote porn with children actually or appearing to be 14 or younger
• 573.030 – Promoting or possession of obscene material for minors for money or favors
• 573.035 – Promoting child porn of a minor under or appearing to be under 18
• 573.037 – Possession of porn of children 18 or younger
• 573.040 – Furnishing or providing porn to minors
• 573.509 – No one under 19 can perform in a strip club or adult cabaret

It’s illegal to photograph, film, videotape, or order anyone under the age of 18 to perform sexually. It’s also unlawful to make a minor watch sexually explicit material, including material on the internet.

Buyers and sellers of "obscene" materials must confirm the materials do not include a visual depiction of a child under the age of 18. Obscene materials are those that the average person would consider to be depicting sexual conduct and lacking serious artistic or scientific value.

It is also illegal for any adult to engage in sexting with a minor, especially if the content of the texts includes sexually explicit images of a child.

Penalties vary depending on the defendant’s conduct and such person’s knowledge of the age of the child involved (or the apparent age of the child):

• Class A Felony
  • Filming, photographing, or otherwise creating obscene materials with someone under the age of 14
  • Knowingly promote pornographic materials that portray a child under 14 to a minor
• Class B Felony
  • Photographing, videotaping, or otherwise creating obscene materials that contain images of a child under the age of 18
  • Knowingly promoting sexually explicit materials involving a child to a minor
  • Promoting child pornography involving someone under the age of 14 to an adult
  • Possession of 20 or more child porn images or at least one film
• Class C Felony
  • Promoting child pornography involving a minor between 15 and 17 years old
  • Possession of less than 20 child porn images
• Class D Felony
  • Engaging in wholesale promotion or possession of obscene materials
  • Providing pornography to a child under the age of 18
  • Promoting porn to a minor while having a previous child porn conviction
• Class A Misdemeanor
  • Promoting or furnishing porn to minors
  • Hiring a person under 19 to dance in an adult establishment

Punishments for felonies and misdemeanors in Missouri vary by class. The felonies above are subject to the following prison sentences and fines:

• Class A Felony – Imprisonment of ten to thirty years or life imprisonment
• Class B felony – Imprisonment of five to fifteen years
• Class C felony – Imprisonment for seven years or less and a fine of up to $5,000
• Class D felony – Prison sentence of up to four years and a fine of up to $5,000
• Class A misdemeanor – Jail for one year or less and up to a $1,000 fine

Anybody guilty of child pornography in Missouri will be subject to mandatory sex offender registration as well.