Who: Makensie Koehler, 33, of Cassville What: Pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children Sentencing: Hearing date yet to be set

Sentencing pending; count punishable by 15-30 years imprisonment

BY KYLE TROUTMAN

ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com A Cassville woman has pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield to sexual exploitation of children.

Makensie Koehler, 33, of Cassville, was initially charged in Barry County with charged with first-degree child molestation, possession of child pornography and incest.

That case moved to the U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, where counts filed included possession of material containing child pornography and sexual exploitation of children.

On Aug. 20, Koehler pleaded guilty to the latter charge, a Class B felony punishable by 15-30 years imprisonment, a life term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, an order of restitution and a $100 mandatory special assessment per felony count of conviction.

David P. Rush, U.S. Magistrate Judge recommended the plea be accepted, and a sentencing date has yet to beset.

According to an affidavit filed by James Smith, Cassville Police Department detective and task force officer with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and with the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, on March 18, 2024, Barry County Sheriff’s Office Det. Abby Parsons advised Koehler was engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor.

A witness told Parsons sexually explicit photos of Koehler and the minor were located at the minor’s home, and the minor also claimed to have videos of Koehler on a cell phone.

On May 14, data from Koehler’s Snapchat account was provided due to a search warrant. Smith’s examination of the data allegedly revealed three images from July and August 2023 depicting nudity and a stimulation device pressed against the victim, all of which involved another minor under the age of 10.

Blankets found in Koehler’s home, allegedly located during a Sheriff’s Office search, matched those depicted in the images.

Per the factual basis for the guilty plea in the agreement, Koehler is admitting possession of the images from in July and August 2023 depicting pornography involving a prepubescent child.

Koehler is a former employee of the Cassville school district. Her resignation from middle school special education aide was effective March 25, 2024, was accepted at the April 11, 2024 school board meeting.