Butler County prosecutor pursues additional charges against man in child exploitation case

A Missouri man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor now faces additional state charges after allegedly recording and possessing child sexual abuse material involving a disabled minor, according to court documents.

Jason Hicks-Simpson, 46, of Poplar Bluff, was sentenced in January by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk after pleading guilty in October to federal charges related to the rape of a minor with an intellectual disability. The victim, now 17, told investigators Hicks-Simpson had sexually abused her since she was five.

Following his federal sentencing, Hicks-Simpson was transferred to state court. Butler County Prosecutor Paul Osterreicher said Hicks-Simpson waived his preliminary hearing and is currently held at the Butler County jail on a U.S. Marshals’ hold.

Hicks-Simpson is now scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 8.

The abuse came to light in March 2024 when the victim’s mother contacted the Poplar Bluff Police Department after being shown a video of her minor daughter allegedly engaged in sexual activity with Hicks-Simpson, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Butler County.

Police say another person recorded the video, which was found on Hicks-Simpson’s phone and relayed to the mother. The affidavit states the child is disabled due to an autistic condition and will require care beyond the age of 18.

Officers located Hicks-Simpson’s residence, obtained his consent to search his phone, and found the same video. Investigators found videos on Hicks-Simpson’s phone dating back to May 2023, despite his claims that the abuse occurred only once. According to a plea agreement, Hicks-Simpson threatened to kill the victim and her kittens to ensure her silence. He was then arrested.

Hicks-Simpson, a registered sex offender in Butler County with a previous unlawful restraint conviction, now faces state felony charges of possession of child pornography, first-degree rape or attempted rape, and first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy.