Man Arrested for Trying to Meet a 13-Year-Old Girl Who was an Undercover Officer

On July 9, 2021, 55-year-old Terry Jette was arrested in Missoula for having sexually explicit conversations with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl. Law enforcement agents had set up a fictitious profile of a 13-year-old girl on several social media services.

Jette appeared in Missoula Justice Court Monday afternoon and Deputy County Attorney Carrie Garber provided the following statement.

“He clearly believed and knew that the person was 13-years-old,” Garber said. “The contents of the communications were very explicit, your honor. They also dealt with drug use. He sent pictures of drugs, specifically methamphetamine. He sent a photograph of his penis and offered to bring methamphetamine to give to the fictitious 13-year-old so they would be able to have sexual intercourse for a long period of time.”

On July 8, 2021, Jette told the fictitious 13-year-old girl he was driving to Missoula from Anaconda to meet her.

“He travelled to the Missoula area and made himself known to the undercover officer,” Garber said. “He said he was in the vicinity and that he wanted to meet. It is clear that had this been a 13-year-old girl instead of an undercover officer, that this would have been a very serious situation.”

Court documents indicate Jette admitted that he had sexually explicit conversations with the 13-year-old female. He confirmed knowing the age of consent in Montana to be 16 or 18. He admitted that he knew the person he was talking with told him they were 13.

He admitted sending pictures of his genitalia to her and asking her for photos as well. He also admitted to sending a photo of drugs to her. He admitted that there was a plan to meet in East Missoula at about 2:00 pm, and he wanted to see if she showed up.

Jette was charged with two counts of felony sexual abuse of children. His bail was set at $50,000.