UPDATE: A 32-year-old Provo man, Josue Daniel McBride, has been arrested and faces 12 felony charges for allegedly sending child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to an undercover officer. This disturbing incident underscores urgent concerns about child exploitation and online safety.
The arrest took place following an operation by the Lehi Police Department on November 10, 2025. Authorities report that McBride was engaging in explicit conversations with an officer who posed as an adult male with a teen nephew, utilizing social media to facilitate the encounter.
Documents reveal that McBride attempted to entice the undercover officer, asking for explicit photos of the alleged nephew while sending multiple videos and images of minors engaged in sexual acts. This alarming exchange highlights the ongoing threat posed by online predators.
The conversation began on the social media platform Reddit, where the undercover officer made a post on the “utahgayhookup” forum, signaling sexual attraction using emojis recognized by law enforcement. McBride responded directly, escalating the conversation to a different messaging platform.
During the interaction, McBride expressed interest in seeing photos of the fictitious nephew and offered videos of other minors in exchange. He allegedly sent graphic videos of children aged between 10 to 16 years old involved in sexual activities, further demonstrating his intent.
As the conversation progressed, McBride’s requests became increasingly explicit, including invitations to meet and engage in sexual acts with the purported minor. Following these exchanges, detectives identified McBride and arrested him upon leaving his workplace in Provo.
Currently, McBride is being held without bail at the Utah County Jail. He faces serious charges, including two counts of enticing a minor, four counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, and five counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor as a second-degree felony, along with a charge of distributing pornographic material.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent dangers of online predation and the importance of vigilance in protecting children. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to CSAM to report it to law enforcement or the ICAC Tip Line at (801) 281-1211.
The investigation is ongoing, and McBride is presumed innocent until proven guilty. As these developments unfold, the community is urged to stay informed and proactive about child safety online.
Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent story as it continues to develop.
