JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- A Boonville man was sentenced in federal court Thursday for using an 8-year-old to produce child pornography at a local hotel.

Matthew Lee Klopfenstine, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole.

On Dec. 8, 2011, Klopfenstine was found guilty of producing child pornography. Evidence during the trial indicated that Klopfenstine and two other adult men took sexually explicit photographs of the child while staying at a Boonville motel.

The investigation into Klopfenstine began on Sept. 19, 2009 when federal agents executed a search warrant at the Troy home of Michael P. Martin, a friend of Klopfenstine. During the search of Martin's home, agents found computer hard drives that had images of child erotica and child pornography, including pornographic images of the child from the motel.

More than 130 photographs were taken at a Super 8 Motel in Booneville, and most included that child. The photos also showed Klopfenstine, Martin, and Jose C. Garcia of Chicago.

Martin and Garcia traveled to Boonville, accompanied by the child, to meet Klopfenstine on June 9, 2009. Martin rented the room using Garcia's credit card.

Among the images recovered by federal agents at Martin's home were nude photos of the child and photos of the child in the hot tub with Martin. Some of the photos were taken by Klopfenstine.

In several images, Klopfenstine is shown nude in the bathtub and is masturbating. Garcia and Klopfenstine were both involved in taking the photographs.

Martin and Garcia have been convicted of child exploitation offenses in separate cases in the Eastern District of Missouri and the Northern District of Illinois, respectively.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the FBI.