In News from the Henry County Prosecutor’s office on Thursday, August 12th, Ahmad-Jamal Josiah Pelzer, age 26 of Clinton, was sentenced to serve a term of twenty-five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for his conviction of one count of statutory sodomy in the first degree of a child less than twelve, 23 counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of the class A felony of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Henry County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, LaChrisha Gray, prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Missouri. Pelzer was represented by counsel.
The case began on February 13, 2020, when Pelzer was arrested by the Clinton Police Department after it was reported that Pelzer had images on his phone of himself having deviate sexual intercourse with the 4-year-old daughter of his girlfriend. Clinton Police later found multiple files containing what appeared to be photographs and videos of other graphic child pornography. Pelzer ultimately pled guilty to all counts on February 25, 2021.
An extensive sentencing hearing was held on August 12, 2021. Assistant Prosecutor LaChrisha Gray presented evidence from multiple witnesses, as did counsel for the defendant.
Assistant Prosecutor LaChrisha Gray urged the court to sentence the defendant to life in prison. The defense asked the court to sentence Pelzer to ten years, the minimum term allowed by law. After careful consideration, Henry County Circuit Judge M. Brandon Baker sentenced Pelzer to twenty-five years on the statutory sodomy, fifteen years on the sexual exploitation, and ten years on each count of possession of child pornography, all sentences to run concurrent to each other.
According to Henry County Assistant Prosecutor LaChrisha Gray, the defendant will be required, by law, to serve eighty-five percent of the twenty-five-year sentence. Additionally, after serving his sentence, Pelzer will not only be required to register as a sex offender but will also be supervised for the remainder of his life. Lifetime supervision of a sex offender includes more heightened requirements and monitoring of the offender, and any violations thereof could result in new criminal charges.
