KC Reporter

A resident of Polk County, Missouri, Merle Glenn Daniels, Jr., has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison without parole for crimes related to child pornography. U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips handed Daniels, 46, a combined sentence involving 20 years for receipt and distribution of child pornography, and an additional 10 years for committing these offenses as a registered sex offender. Post-incarceration, Daniels faces 15 years of supervised release.

Daniels, previously convicted in Greene County, Missouri, for statutory rape and statutory sodomy with a 14-year-old, was required to register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty on May 9, 2024, to receiving and distributing child pornography. During his offenses, he reportedly impersonated a minor to exchange sexually explicit material with a victim in late 2022.

The case was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan and investigated by various law enforcement agencies, including the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Springfield Police Department, among others.

This sentencing is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice started in 2006 to address and fight child sexual exploitation and abuse. The effort involves cooperation among federal, state, and local agencies to pursue offenders and assist victims. Additional information on Project Safe Childhood and related resources can be found on the Department of Justice's website.