Springfield man sentenced for sex crimes against teen, assaulting officer

A Springfield man was sentenced this month to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a teenage girl.

Shaman Wesley, 32, was sentenced to the prison time at a hearing on March 13 after he pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor and felony assault.

The plea deal capped the sentence at 10 years in prison, and Judge Calvin Holden opted for the maximum punishment.

Wesley's public defender said the case was "a clash of African cultures and Missouri law," while prosecutors said Wesley used a teenage girl as his "personal sex slave."

Prosecutors say Wesley repeatedly sexually abused the girl, who was a refugee, and told her that if she reported him, her family would be kicked out of the country.

Some of the abuse was captured by cameras inside Wesley's home, according to prosecutors.

According to court documents, Springfield police became involved in the case in July 2018 when the girl was reported missing and later found inside Wesley's home.

Documents say Wesley, who was only wearing a bath towel when police arrived at his home looking for the girl, attacked the responding officer.

Police also reported hearing Wesley make reference to a dowry.

At the March 13 sentencing hearing, Wesley's public defender said Wesley, who is from Africa originally, had intentions of marrying the girl and there was some cultural confusion at play.

A family member of the victim told the judge that she had initially been friends with Wesley and then had to tell him not to come to her home anymore because of concerns related to his behavior with the victim.

Wesley's attorney asked for probation.