June 6th, 2025 Local News
St. Francois County, Mo. (KFMO) - A St. Francois County man has been convicted of multiple child sex offenses following a jury trial in St. Francois County. According to the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, 50-year-old John Maxwell was found guilty on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, after a two-day trial.
Maxwell was convicted of two counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree, two counts of incest, and one count of child molestation in the second degree. The charges stem from a 2021 investigation launched after a concerned parent contacted authorities about disturbing messages discovered between Maxwell and his then 15-year-old stepdaughter.
During the trial, Park Hills School Resource Officer Andrew Rieger testified that he was first alerted to the messages by the teen’s parent. Maxwell reportedly admitted to sending the messages but denied any further wrongdoing. Park Hills Detectives Summer Bess and Joseph Carducci continued the investigation, interviewing both Maxwell and the teen.
The now 19-year-old survivor took the stand during the trial. Her testimony revealed that Maxwell had gradually built trust with her through special attention and affection before the abuse began between 2018 and 2020, when she was between 12 and 13 years old.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sarah Jackson led the State’s case. Circuit Judge Wendy Horn presided over the trial. Formal sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2025. Maxwell faces a potential life sentence or a minimum of five years for each count of statutory sodomy, up to four years for each count of incest, and five to fifteen years for the second-degree child molestation conviction.
