ST. LOUIS – A Fenton, Missouri, man appeared in federal court on Tuesday to be sentenced for seeking sex with someone he thought was an underage teenager.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Trevor White pleaded guilty in April to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

On the evening of Sept. 24, 2023, White, who was 41 at the time, contacted the 13-year-old daughter of two friends. He asked the teen for her photo and, ultimately, sent her a photo of himself shirtless.

The girl told her parents about the conversation and they contacted the St. Louis County Police Department. A detective used the girl’s phone and posed as the teen to continue the conversation with White.

Over the next several days, the conversation became increasingly sexual in nature. He sent two explicit photos to the teen’s phone and requested sexually explicit photos of the teen in turn. White wanted to arrange a meeting so they could have sex.

On Sept. 29, 2023, police detectives went to White’s residence, where he admitted to everything.

A U.S. District Court judge sentenced White to 140 months in federal prison.