Retired Missouri teacher is sentenced for seeking sex with children

A 71-year-old retired Missouri high school teacher who placed an online ad seeking sex with children was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison.

Paul Robert Cannon of Sedalia retired from the Gasconade County School District in 1996. He also served on the Gasconade County Board of Education after he retired, according to federal prosecutors.

Cannon pleaded guilty in March in U.S. District Court to a charge of attempting to induce a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity.

According to court documents, Cannon posted an ad on Craigslist in January under the heading “Grandpa looking for a couple with kids.”

The posting read: “Grandpa looking for a couple that would like to include their kids in sexual fun,” according to court documents.

A detective with the Boone County (Mo.) Sheriff’s Office answered the ad posing as the single mother of a 14-year-old daughter.

The detective and Cannon exchanged emails in which Cannon talked about sex acts he wanted to perform with the girl.

They arranged a meeting at a Columbia restaurant, where Cannon was arrested.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Retired Missouri teacher is sentenced for seeking sex with children."