Glenpool man sentenced to life in prison for sexually exploiting 16-year-old

TULSA, Okla. — Content Warning: The following article contains descriptions of child sexual abuse.

A Glenpool man was sentenced to life in prison for sexually exploiting a 16-year-old girl, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

On Tuesday, Thomas Anthony Pearce, age 55 of Glenpool, was sentenced to life in federal prison. In March 2022, Pearce was convicted of coercion or enticement of a minor, production of child pornography, possession of child pornography in Indian Country and distribution of marijuana.

“Thomas Pearce preyed on a teenage girl that he coerced into engaging in sexual acts by providing her drugs. His illicit behavior escalated when he restrained her with zip ties and sexually assaulted her. He also photographed the sexual acts resulting in the producing and possessing child pornography charges,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Federal prosecutors and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to protect victims and bring to justice those who have harmed them. I am proud to say justice has been served in this case.”

In the early morning hours of Feb. 8, 2021, the Jenks Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Pearce. Pearce’s passenger, the minor victim, told police she was high on marijuana that Pearce had given her. She also said on a different occasion, Pearce had zip tied her hands and took explicit pictures of her.

Pearce was then arrested.

At the scene, authorities searched Pearce’s truck and found marijuana, thumb drives, zip ties, duct tape, three cell phones and other items.

In a later interview with the victim, she said she had six encounters with Pearce and that Pearce’s sexual advances and abuse would increase with increase with each encounter. She said Pearce sexually assaulted her, zip tied her and took explicit pictures of her.

She also said Pearce gave her marijuana and wanted her to take a pill, which she refused.

On a phone in the truck, authorities found explicit pictures of the victim depicting the sexual acts she described.

Authorities also found text messages between Pearce and the victim, in which Pearce made references to his abuse of the victim, told the victim she should take a pill that would make her feel good and said he had sexual encounters with other minors. When the victim texted that she didn’t want to meet him again, Pearce threatened to harm her siblings.

Authorities later served search warrants on Pearce’s Glenpool home and two storage units in Tulsa, seizing a computer and multiple hard drives.

On a seized thumb drive, authorities found a file with explicit pictures of a minor. Authorities were able to contact that minor, who was now an adult. She said Pearce had sex with her, took explicit pictures of her and would pay her in cash, gifts and marijuana.

On a seized hard drive, authorities found child sex abuse material that specifically referenced “raped teens.”

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