NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

OCTOBER 14, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW CHARGES AGAINST SPRINGFIELD MAN INDICTED FOR

CHILD PORN, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A CHILD

            SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former YMCA camp employee was indicted by a federal grand jury today on additional charges of sexual exploitation of a child.

            Matthew O’Dell, 26, of Springfield, Mo., was charged in a two-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Today’s superseding indictment replaces the original indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on Sept. 15, 2009. The superseding indictment includes one count of sexual exploitation of a child as well as the original charge of possessing child pornography.

            Today’s indictment alleges that, between Jan. 1, 2005, and May 30, 2006, O’Dell, aided and abetted by another person, used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. The indictment also alleges that O’Dell was in possession of child pornography on Aug. 4, 2009.

            O’Dell, who was formerly employed at YMCA’s Camp Wakonda in Lawrence County, Mo., remains in federal custody. He is being detained without bond.

            Whitworth cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html