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BYU Assistant Professor Charged in Undercover Teen-Enticement Case

The university placed him on leave following a sting detailed in court filings.

Overview

  • Prosecutors charged Stephen Henry McKean, 32, in Box Elder County with distributing harmful materials to a minor and three counts of enticing a minor.
  • The case began in March when an investigator with an Internet Crimes Against Children task force posed online as a 17-year-old girl.
  • Charging documents say McKean described sexual acts, sent an explicit photo of himself, and said his name was Steve and that he taught math or science at a university.
  • Investigators served search warrants and traced the messages to an IP address at a home in Springville after the account was later deleted.
  • BYU said McKean, an assistant professor of math, was put on immediate administrative leave and the school pledged to cooperate with police and support affected students.