Washington County Sheriff’s Department photo, courtesy
ST LOUIS, Mo. (NewsFirst) – In a plea hearing earlier this month, former Potosi, Missouri police officer Matthew N. Skaggs, 40, admitted guilt to three felony charges: sex trafficking, solicitation of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor. The charges, brought forth by the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Missouri, were presented before U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp.
Between January 1, 2022, and August 10, 2022, Skaggs confessed in court to providing a 13-year-old boy with vape cartridges, alcohol, CBD, and THC in exchange for explicit photos. On multiple occasions, Skaggs allegedly molested the victim while in uniform in a police vehicle at a kindergarten center and later provided the minor with vape cartridges in a middle school boys’ bathroom.
Skaggs is also reported to have repeatedly offered money to another boy, aged between 14 and 16, for sexual favors, obtaining explicit photos in return. Additionally, he admitted to performing a sex act on a 17-year-old victim twice, subsequently providing money and alcohol to the minor between June 13, 2022, and July 14, 2022. Skaggs made payments ranging from $5 to $75 via Cash App and also supplied the victim with cigarettes and vape pods.
At the time of his arrest, Skaggs was undergoing training to become a school resource officer. His sentencing is scheduled for February 14, 2024, with a recommended sentence of no more than 300 months in prison (25 years), as per the plea agreement. The charges of sex trafficking and coercion carry a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life, while solicitation of child pornography mandates a minimum five-year term and a maximum life sentence. All charges are also punishable by a fine of up to $250,000.
As part of the plea agreement, Skaggs has agreed to forfeit electronic devices, including an iPad, two cell phones, and storage devices. The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Missouri.
