Former Farmington kindergarten teacher pleads guilty to child pornography charge
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — A former Farmington kindergarten teacher has pleaded guilty to possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material, federal prosecutors said.
Erika L. Morton, 37, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of possession of child pornography. According to court records, Morton admitted sending child sexual abuse material through the Kik Messenger app.
The investigation began in February 2025, when the Missouri State Highway Patrol received a cybertip reporting that a Kik user had uploaded several video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Investigators traced the account to Morton and interviewed her on June 17, 2025. Prosecutors said Morton admitted to sending the material and to using her cellphone to obtain it while at her home in Ste. Genevieve County.
Morton is scheduled to be sentenced in April. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester is prosecuting.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated federal, state and local efforts.
