Alabama man convicted of child enticement by Platte County jury
PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) -- An Alabama man was convicted of attempted enticement of a child by a Platte County Jury on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Thomas Taylor, 47, of Wilmer, Alabama, was found guilty of the attempted enticement charge after the jury deliberated for about three hours.
The jurors recommended a 16-year prison sentence after Taylor was found guilty.
"It is very disturbing that individuals still search for sites on the internet where they believe they can engage in sex acts with children," Interim Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Gibson said in a news release. "Cases like this show us that the dark recesses of the internet are still dangerous places for kids, and predators lie in wait for them."
According to the release, a Feb. 27, 2026, trial proved that the Platte County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, conducted a predator-focused undercover child sex sting.
Detectives with Platte County posted an advertisement on a known escort site in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Buchanan County Sheriff's Office and Homeland Security Investigations detectives then posed as an underage 16-year-old girl.
The undercover detective testified that Taylor responded to one of the ads and requested a "QV (quick visit) sex act" for $150.
The detective and Taylor then exchanged a series of texts, in which the detective told Taylor she was 16. Eventually, a meeting place was arranged in Platte County. Additionally, the detective asked Taylor to bring her a pink-edition Red Bull energy drink.
Taylor drove to the pre-arranged location, where he was then arrested by Platte County undercover officers.
A pink-edition Red Bull was found in Taylor's truck, as well as the $150 he was going to use to pay the escort.
Detectives also determined Taylor's phone number matched the number used to communicate with the undercover detective.
"In 2003, then Platte County Sheriff Richard Anderson and then Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd created the Platte County Cybercrime Unit," said Gibson. "That unit, comprised of detectives and assistant prosecutors, was specifically created to deal with catching internet predators. Even after 23 years, this unit is still going strong and still catching people willing to have sex with children."
Gibson said final sentencing for Taylor will take place at 11 a.m. on Oct. 13.
