Provo man tried to meet with 13-year-old, destroyed tablet when approached by officers, documents say

PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — A Provo man has been arrested and charged after allegedly attempting to meet up with a 13-year-old who was an undercover officer.

Chad Sean Oshley, 43, has been charged with attempted rape of a child, attempted sodomy on a child, attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, obstruction of justice in a criminal investigation, and interference with a police officer.

According to court documents, on July 17, 2025, law enforcement went undercover as a 13-year-old male child on social media. The suspect, later identified as Oshley, began engaging in conversation with who he believed to be a 13-year-old.

The conversation between Oshley and the alleged 13-year-old moved to texting, where the undercover officer used the account to say he lived in Provo and reaffirmed that he was a minor. Oshley stated that he wanted to meet with the child.

At this point, documents say that the conversation “turned sexual,” and Oshley repeatedly asked who he believed to be a 13-year-old for sexual images of himself. Oshley organized an in-person meeting in Provo on the same day, July 17, and the alleged 13-year-old provided a meeting location.

Oshley arrived at the meeting location in a white truck, which he described to the 13-year-old over text. Law enforcement attempted a felony stop on Oshley, but he refused to leave his vehicle for more than 30 minutes while officers commanded him to exit the truck.

A drone was used for surveillance, and allegedly caught Oshley dismantling and destroying a Samsung tablet, scattering the pieces around the truck cab. He also called his wife and told her he “had been talking to someone online,” according to documents.

At this point, officers were able to take Oshley into custody. He was taken to the Provo Police Department, but denied an interview. Oshley was booked into the Utah County Jail and is currently being held without bail.