PB woman gets 20 years for producing child porn

CAPE GIRARDEAU — A Poplar Bluff woman was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Tuesday morning for producing child pornography.

Amber M. Longhibler was sentenced to 240 months on the felony of sexual exploitation of a minor (production of child pornography) by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to Assistant U.S. Attorney John Koester.

“Upon release she will then be placed on supervised release for 20 years,” Koester said.

At sentencing, the government dismissed another felony of receipt and distribution of child pornography.

With her September plea, Longhibler admitted on Feb. 26, law enforcement officials made contact with her codefendant, Brandon M. Hopper, at his Poplar Bluff residence in regard to a child pornography investigation.

Hopper “voluntarily agreed to speak with investigators,” according to the plea agreement signed by Longhibler.

Hopper was a Poplar Bluff police officer at the time and later was terminated after his arrest.

During the interview, Hopper admitted he and Longhibler “had been exchanging pornographic material over the internet,” the plea agreement further says. “Hopper stated he used his mobile phone to send and receive material over the internet.”

Hopper, the plea agreement says, voluntarily turned over his iPhone and gave written consent for investigators to search its contents.

“After turning over the phone, Hopper informed investigators that they would find sexually explicit images depicting ‘minor female No. 1,’” the plea agreement further says. “Hopper explained that ‘minor female No. 1’ was a relative of Longhibler who was under 18 years of age.”

Hopper reportedly described an image, which depicted sexually explicit conduct involving both him and the girl.

“Hopper told investigators that Longhibler took that particular photograph,” the plea agreement says.

Hopper reportedly also told investigators Longhibler sent him several other sexually explicit images of the girl.

When investigators interviewed Longhibler, “she confirmed that she had taken numerous photographs of ‘minor female No. 1’ using her mobile phone,” the plea agreement says. “ … Longhibler also confirmed that she took the photograph of ‘minor female No. 1’” with Hopper.

Longhibler reportedly admitted to using her iPhone to send the images to Hopper.

Investigators reportedly confirmed there were sexually explicit images of “minor female No. 1” on both Apple iPhones.

With her plea, Longhibler admitted she “knowingly used ‘minor female No. 1’ … to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and that she did so for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct,” the plea agreement says.

In October, Hopper pleaded guilty to the felony of sexual exploitation of a minor (production of child pornography) before Limbaugh.

Hopper is to be sentenced Jan. 20. At that time, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and the maximum penalty is 30 years.

At sentencing, the government is expected to dismiss an additional felony of receipt and distribution of child pornography.