Wyola man sentenced to 10 years in prison for harassing teen with sexual images, texts

BILLINGS - A Wyola man who sent inappropriate text messages, photos, and videos to a teenage girl was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Scott Twito said.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

Truman Frank Jefferson, 50, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to attempted coercion and enticement.

The government alleged in court documents that Jefferson had been sexually harassing a 16-year-old girl for years. In June 2024 law enforcement responded to a trespass complaint against Jefferson at a home in Lodge Grass. There, a 16-year-old girl said Jefferson had been sexually harassing her, sending her inappropriate text messages, photos, and videos.

The girl described multiple instances when Jefferson messaged her to come see him and then requested she touch his exposed genitals. She said it happened once when she was 14 or 15 years old. Jefferson sent her a text message telling her to come out to his vehicle because he had a present for her. Once outside, the girl was confronted with Jefferson's exposed penis, and he told her to "touch it."

Investigators recovered messages from Jefferson to the girl. One of the recovered conversations was from Jefferson's cell phone and contained his request to perform oral sex on the girl. Jefferson, in his 40s at the time, knew the girl was younger than 18.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.