Heidi Schmidt and Tony Nguyen
1 week ago
June 24, 2024 Update: Billy Matheny changed his plea to guilty on May 13, 2024. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison for first and second degree possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child.
original work:
Note: This story contains some content some may find disturbing, so discretion is advised..
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — A Warrensburg man is facing charges after he admitted to abusing young girls in front of their parents at his store.
Billy Randall Matheny, 57, of Warrensburg, was charged with five counts of possession of child pornography.
Investigators began investigating Matheny last month on suspicion of child sexual abuse.
According to charging documents, investigators obtained a private Facebook chat transcript between Matheny and another individual, dated Sept. 28, 2021.
During the chats, records show Matheny shared photos of at least one girl under the age of 12. Matheny and the other person engaged in inappropriate chat about the girl.
According to the indictment, the defendant also revealed that he was “able to touch the child during private lessons” and “whatever he did in front of her parents was unpunished.”
According to the felony complaint, agents executed warrants at Matheny's home and a martial arts shop he operates in Warrensburg on June 16.
According to court documents, investigators found more than 20 images and videos of alleged child pornography on Matheny's computer.
The videos show girls between the ages of 10 and 15, and the nude photos show girls younger than 10, according to the complaint.
When interviewed by investigators last week, Matheny said at least some of the photos were of children in his class, according to the indictment.
Matheny is currently being held in the Pettis County Jail on $100,000 bail.
If convicted on all charges he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Investigators are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact police.
