Jefferson City man sentenced to 24 years for enticement of minor

A Jefferson City man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for enticing a minor to engage in illicit sex.

Andrew C. Clayton, 38, was sentenced to 24 years and four months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Clayton to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration.

Clayton, a computer information technician employed by the state of Missouri at the time of the offense, sought out sexual relationships with juvenile males, some as young as 14.

Clayton, who pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2016, admitted that he used the KIK instant messaging app on his cellphone to attempt to persuade a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

Clayton used KIK to contact a minor March 19-20, 2015. Clayton offered the minor cigarettes and other items if he would reconnect him with another minor with whom Clayton had previously engaged in sexual relations. Instead, one of the minors contacted the Cole County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies executed a search warrant at Clayton's residence March 27, 2015, and in an interview with officers Clayton admitted to having sex with several boys.