A former paramedic and firefighter from St. Louis County, David S. Becker, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison on child sex-related charges. The sentencing took place on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk.
Becker, 70, was also ordered to pay $17,000 in restitution to victims depicted in child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to supervised release for life.
In August, a jury found Becker guilty of one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. According to evidence presented at trial, Becker began communicating with an individual on a nudist website who claimed to be the mother of an 11-year-old girl in France. The conversations included discussions about sexual activity involving both adults and the child. In October 2022, Becker sent this person an image containing CSAM and later purchased plane tickets and obtained a visa for travel to France in June 2023.
Authorities were already investigating after receiving a cyber tipline report about someone uploading CSAM. On May 22, 2023, investigators executed a court-approved search at Becker’s residence. During the search, Becker admitted that he planned to travel to France to meet the woman and her daughter. Investigators recovered CSAM from his electronic devices along with communications spanning years regarding plans to sexually abuse the child.
Further evidence uncovered after the trial revealed that Becker had communicated with another individual who also claimed to be the mother of a young girl.
Judge Pitlyk told Becker near the end of Tuesday’s hearing: “the evidence at trial showed both that he ‘fully intended’ to sexually abuse a child in France and the danger he poses to the community.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the St. Louis County Police Department Special Investigations Unit, FBI, and Maryland Heights Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jillian Anderson and Michael Hayes prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative by the Department of Justice launched in May 2006—to combat online exploitation and abuse of children by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies for investigation and victim rescue efforts. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
