Licking man indicted for child sexual exploitation, meth trafficking

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A man from Licking, Missouri, was indicted in federal court Tuesday for the sexual exploitation of a child, as well as illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms.

Tuesday's indictment charges 42-year-old John P. Weaver with using a minor victim to produce child pornography and receiving and distributing child pornography. He was also charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Weaver is accused of producing child pornography with a minor from January to Febuary 2024 and possessing meth and two Hi-Point pistols on Feb. 29, 2024. Weaver had two prior convictions of possessing a controlled substance and was also previously convicted of stealing, burglary, stealing a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any other person.