BRIGHAM CITY, Utah — A Brigham Young University professor who also serves as a Sunday school teacher has been arrested on multiple child sex crime charges following an online undercover sting operation.
Stephen Henry McKean, 32, of Springville, was booked Tuesday into the Box Elder County Jail and charged with suspicion of third-degree felony distribution of harmful material to a minor, and three class A misdemeanor counts of enticing a minor.
The arrest stems from a joint investigation by the Box Elder County Attorney’s Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. According to a probable cause affidavit, an undercover officer posing online as a 17-year-old girl was contacted by McKean’s account.
Court documents state McKean initiated the chat by messaging, “Hey there, 34M in Utah here! You seem like you might be fun ;)” When the officer replied she was 17, McKean acknowledged she was too young but continued the interaction. He eventually requested a verification photo of the girl giving a thumbs-down gesture.
The officer wrote in the affidavit, he provided an image to the user, and that is when McKean seemed to be more ok with talking to an underage female.
The conversation then turned explicitly sexual. McKean reportedly sent a photo of his lower face, stating he needed to “keep hiding his face for now.” He quickly deleted the image, but the officer had already saved it. During the exchange, McKean mentioned his profession as a university math and science professor. He later sent and subsequently deleted sexually explicit photographs, which the officer also preserved as evidence.
At one point, McKean allegedly told the decoy, “You’re going to make me like you better than my wife,” claiming his spouse could not handle “all of him.” He deleted his account the following day, but investigators secured a search warrant to trace his physical address.
Authorities expressed deep concern over McKean’s roles as a professor and a Sunday school teacher, noting these positions provided direct access to youth and young adults. The officer stated that had the decoy been located closer, McKean likely would have attempted an in-person meeting for sex.
BYU issued a statement confirming McKean was immediately placed on administrative leave.
“We condemn abuse in any form, and the university will fully cooperate with law enforcement as this investigation moves forward,” the university stated, adding it is committed to supporting any affected students.
McKean is being held in the Box Elder County Jail. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance April 27 in Brigham City’s 1st District Court.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.