Texas man sentenced for sexual abuse of 12-year-old in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Texas man who traveled to Utah to sexually abuse a 12-year-old victim in 2024 has been sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge.

Carl William Wyckoff, 25, pleaded guilty to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He initially faced two additional charges — transfer of obscenity to a minor and coercion and enticement — which were dismissed upon sentencing.

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah states that Wyckoff exchanged messages with the 12-year-old victim on an online game. At the time, Wyckoff believed she was an adult and began exchanging sexual messages and images. According to the attorney’s office, when she revealed she was underage, Wyckoff continued these inappropriate conversations.

During 2024, Wyckoff traveled from his home in New Boston, Texas, to Arizona between April 13 and April 14. According to court documents, he met the 12-year-old victim there and brought her to Utah to engage in unlawful sexual activity.

The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office investigated this case, and Assistant United States Attorney Chris Burton prosecuted.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby sentenced Wyckoff to 135 months’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the Utah Office for Victims of Crime.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that this case is part of a greater effort to investigate child exploitation cases, Project Safe Childhood. PSC is “a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.”