Jefferson County Man Admits Trying to Meet Teen for Sex

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A Jefferson County man admitted in court Tuesday to trying to meet a 16-year-old to engage in sexual activity.

39-year-old Anthony J. Snelson, of Arnold, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted receipt of child pornography. He admitted engaging in an inappropriate conversation via TikTok with a teen. After the victim’s mother discovered the conversation, she took it over and began impersonating the victim. She later had her daughter call Snelson, who requested a nude photo and asked if the victim wanted to meet and “mess around”. The mother called the St. Louis County Police Department on Aug. 12, 2024, after a meeting had been arranged, and officers arrested Snelson when he arrived. He admitted in an interview with police that the reason he met with the teen was “to maybe mess around”. Snelson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years, and a maximum of 20 years.