JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A prior sex offender residing in Fulton has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Michael James Collins, 21, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federalgrand jury Thursday in Jefferson City. Collins, who was a resident at the Community Supervision Center in Fulton, has a prior felony conviction for sexual misconduct involving a child.
The federal indictment charges Collins with using the internet and a cellphone from July 21 to Dec. 10, 2017, to attempt to entice a minor under the age of 14 to engage in illegal sexual activity. Collins is also charged with one count of transporting a minor under the age of 14 across state lines with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity. The indictment also alleged Collins committed those felony offenses when he was required to register as a sex offender.
The charges contained in this indictment are accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff's Office, Fulton police, the FBI, the Callaway County Prosecutor's Office and the Callaway County Children's Division.