DESOTO COUNTY – A 42-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of child exploitation, according to the DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office.
Christopher Stover was sentenced as a habitual offender under Mississippi law, officials said. Authorities said Stover was also a registered sex offender at the time of the offense.
Because of his habitual offender status, Stover must serve the full 30-year sentence day for day and is not eligible for early release, according to the district attorney’s office.
The case began with a cyber tip submitted through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which alerted authorities to the illegal activity, officials said.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. Authorities credited Investigator Jessica Palmer with building the case.
Assistant District Attorney Steven Jubera prosecuted the case, according to the district attorney’s office.
