A Bellefontaine man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Thursday after admitting he tried to meet a 14-year-old girl in Jefferson County for sexual contact, following a late-night confrontation at a window at her family's home that ended with deputies finding him wandering nearby. Tay'vion K. Like, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one federal count of coercion and enticement of a minor, and U.S. District Judge Cristian M. Stevens also imposed lifetime supervised release once his prison term ends.
According to court records cited by myleaderpaper.com, Like began messaging the girl through Snapchat on July 14, 2025, and drove to her home early the next morning. The girl told him she was 14, and he told her he was 17, the records show. Court records further indicate Like expressed his intent to visit her home for sexual activity, and the girl warned him not to come, saying she would call law enforcement if he did.
Deputies Find Him Walking Near the House
The girl's father called the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at about 3:20 a.m. on July 15 after Like was caught tapping on one of the home's windows, per the same court records. When Like remained outside, the father called deputies again around 8:35 a.m., and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies located him walking near the residence and took him into custody. The girl had alerted her father after trying unsuccessfully to persuade Like to leave, according to court records.
Investigators reviewing Like's Snapchat activity also found similar sexually explicit conversations between him and other underage girls, the outlet reported. The case was investigated jointly by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson.
Judge Cites Prior Conviction in Handing Down Sentence
In sentencing Like on Thursday, Judge Stevens pointed to his previous indecent exposure conviction and the need to protect children in the community as reasons for imposing lifetime supervised release in addition to the 10-year prison term. Stevens also ordered Like to pay $1,210 in restitution to the victim. A Justice Department statement described the case as centering on a St. Louis County man's attempt to have sexual contact with a Jefferson County 14-year-old, though the full text of that release was not available to confirm further sentencing details.
Like pleaded guilty on July 22 to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, a charge that falls under federal law. Per 18 U.S.C. § 2422, the statute covers anyone who uses the mail or a facility of interstate or foreign commerce to knowingly persuade, induce, entice or coerce someone under 18 into prohibited sexual conduct — the kind of Snapchat messaging involved in this case. The sentencing was reported by KTTN.
