(MO)
News Tribune [Jefferson City MO]
July 9, 2026
By News Tribune Staff
A Cole County grand jury on Tuesday indicted a former Jefferson City youth minister on felony charges of attempted enticement of a child, attempted sexual exploitation of a child and non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images.
Robert Ferguson, 27, was charged June 24 after a woman made contact with Jefferson City Police in early May to report that Ferguson had been using two phones to distribute sexually explicit photos of her, according to a JCPD probable cause statement.
Police say Ferguson had posed as a teenager and attempted to illicit pornographic images from a 15-year-old girl. Ferguson allegedly admitted to disseminating photos and a video of the woman who reported him, according to previous News Tribune reporting.
He also allegedly admitted to altering his phone number to obfuscate his identity while trying to obtain explicit images from a minor.
Ferguson will be arraigned on his charges Aug. 3 before Cole County Judge Brian Stumpe. He faces up to 17-plus years in prison if convicted. Attempted enticement of a minor charges are unclassified, meaning the court has no maximum sentencing guidelines.