Lehi man charged for enticing minors on social media, possessing CSAM

LEHI, Utah (ABC4) — A Lehi man is behind bars and charged with 26 felonies after allegedly enticing minors on social media and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Police began an undercover operation after a victim’s parents reported he was speaking with their underage daughter.

Cade Hilton Boyle, 21, is charged with seven counts of enticing a minor and 19 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, both second-degree felonies.

According to court documents, on Oct. 25, 2025, a detective with the Lehi Police Department began investigating a case where a 21-year-old man was chatting with a 12-year-old girl on Instagram. The man’s account had the name Cade Boyle, and he allegedly promised to bring the child on dates and buy her food.

The 12-year-old’s parents turned the conversation over to the police and stated that they discovered the chats before Boyle and the child were able to meet. Police did not have enough evidence from the chats to confirm a crime had occurred, but the detective stated that the “gross level of grooming” by Boyle was a concern.

On Oct. 29, the detective contacted Boyle with an account posing as a 13-year-old girl on Instagram. He allegedly responded, but initially stated that he was “too old for her.”

As the conversation continued, Boyle said that if he and the 13-year-old “went on a date or kissed or more,” it would be illegal, but if the child was okay with it, then he was okay with it. Documents say he told the undercover officer that it was only bad if she reported it.

Boyle allegedly asked who he believed to be a child if they were “good” and said that he wouldn’t tell anyone and was “okay with it.” Following this, he began sending sexual messages and comments to the undercover account, as well as AI-generated images of children.

The two made plans to meet in person and go for a drive up American Fork Canyon, documents say. Boyle promised to bring yellow roses and condoms for the child. Roughly an hour before the planned meeting time, police say that he stopped responding to the undercover account.

Police decided to respond to Boyle’s residence to arrest him for enticing a minor. When they arrived at his residence, he allegedly said he knew that officers were there because he was talking with a 13-year-old online, and that he knew it was wrong.

According to documents, Boyle became “unstable on his feet and fell to the grass, stating he felt light-headed.” Officers brought him to the police department for a formal interview.

During that interview, Boyle admitted that he had “an issue with speaking to children,” police say. He allegedly disclosed to police that while serving a religious mission in Hawaii, he started an “inappropriate conversation with a 15-year-old” and was sent home by religious leaders.

Boyle further stated that he had purchased the yellow roses for the 13-year-old, but “felt” that he shouldn’t meet with the child, and was going to bring them to his mother instead. Documents say he also admitted to visiting the dark web to view CSAM.

Search warrants were ordered for Boyle’s vehicle and phone. Inside his vehicle, police allegedly located the bouquet of yellow roses. On Boyle’s cell phone, 19 files of CSAM depicting young children were located, according to documents.

Boyle was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail, where he is being held without bail.