Springfield Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Obscenity

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Springfield, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for possessing child obscenity.

Rusty Mann, 35, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Upon release from federal incarceration, Mann will be committed to the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for control, care and treatment as a sexually violent predator (under the terms of the Judgment and Order of Commitment entered in Case Number 1131-PR00937, in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, Probate Division). The court also sentenced Mann to spend the rest of his life under supervised release following incarceration.

On March 18, 2015, Mann pleaded guilty to possessing child obscenity.

On the night of Oct. 21, 2011, a Springfield police detective observed Mann approach a playground on a bicycle. The detective made contact with Mann just outside the fenced area of the playground. Mann was attired in a black mini skirt and women’s knee-high boots; he was identified as the person who had been leaving soiled diapers and clothing on the playground.

As a registered sex offender, Mann was not permitted within 1,000 feet of school property under state law. Mann was placed under arrest at that time. Mann has prior convictions for child molestation and sexual misconduct involving a child.

Mann’s bicycle, backpack and fanny pack were collected from the scene. A search of the backpack yielded a cell phone, along with other items. The investigators conducted a search of the cell phone and located several images of suspected child pornography and obscene cartoon depictions of minors, including a cartoon image of a prepubescent female being sexually assaulted.

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