KC Reporter

A Sedalia, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court today for soliciting sexually explicit photos of a 14-year-old victim.

Dustin Shane Colvin, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 35 years in federal prison without parole.

On Jan. 4, 2024, Colvin pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving and distributing child pornography. Colvin, a registered sex offender, was convicted of the statutory rape of a 13-year-old victim in 2007.

Co-defendant Serena Dowling, 24, of Sedalia, pleaded guilty on March 11, 2024, to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography and awaits sentencing.

Dowling took sexually explicit photos of a 14-year-old victim at the request of Colvin, her fiancé, and sent them to him over Snapchat. Dowling told the child victim she would receive $100 per photo from Colvin, although she only paid about half the money she had promised.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department; the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department; Homeland Security Investigations; and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood or Internet safety education resources visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

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