A Platte City man faces up to 180 years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two girls following a three-day jury trial.

Daryl D. Lemasters, 54, was found guilty of four counts of first degree statutory sodomy, enticement of a child, and sexual exploitation of a minor.

 

In a news release, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “The jury convicted this defendant of sexually abusing two girls over several years, starting when the girls were as young as five.

“Then the jury learned he had another child victim, who he had molested years earlier. He is a serial child rapist, but this jury’s verdict should ensure he will never have a chance to hurt another child.”

On February 6, 2011, the Platte County Sheriff’s Department received information that Lemasters had repeatedly touched two girls inappropriately. Three days later, investigators served search warrants at Lemasters’ home and business. Several items matching descriptions given by the victims were recovered. A later search of a computer owned by Lemasters revealed a clip of child pornography taken of one of the victims.

Prosecutors proved at trial that Lemasters repeatedly sexually abused the victims over a four-year time period and offered to take one of them to a water park in exchange for sexual acts.

Friends and family, as well as Lemasters himself, testified that he was considered a father figure by the victims.

During the sentencing phase of the trial, another woman testified that Lemasters sexually abused her when she was a young girl.

The jury recommended Lemasters be sentenced to 30 years on each of the six counts. Judge Owens Lee Hull Jr. set sentencing for August 1.

Zahnd said his office would ask Judge Hull to run all of the sentences consecutively, which would result in a 180 year sentence. Lemasters remains in custody in the Platte County Jail.