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BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2026 2:09 pm
by drumdude
Brigham Young University professor has been charged after allegedly messaging and sending an explicit photo to an officer posing as a 17-year-old girl.
Stephen Henry McKean, 32, has been charged with distributing material harmful to a minor (third-degree felony), and three counts of enticing a minor (class A misdemeanor).
According to court documents, McKean allegedly messaged an undercover ICAC agent that was posing as a 17-year-old girl. McKean reportedly continued to communicate with the agent, despite knowing that the person he was talking to was supposedly 17 years old and even expressed concerns that it was illegal.
Nevertheless, according to court documents, McKean continued to speak with the supposed 17-year-old and talked about the possibility of meeting up for sexual acts. McKean allegedly described sexual acts he wanted to engage in to the ’17-year-old’ in “graphic detail.”
He even messaged the agent posing as a 17-year-old “You’re going to make me like you better than my wife,” according to court documents.
At one point, McKean reportedly sent an explicit photo of himself to the agent, still believing it was to a 17-year-old girl. He quickly deleted the photo, but the agent was able to save it, according to court documents.
Court documents confirm that McKean is a professor at Brigham young University and also a Sunday School teacher
https://www.abc4.com/news/crime/BYU-pro ... photo/amp/
I wonder if he was part of Robert Boylan’s Mormon internet crusaders.
Re: BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:25 am
by I Have Questions
Perhaps part of his defence will be “she was in her 18th year”
Is he still a professor at Brigham young University and also a Sunday School teacher? UPDATED: BYU have placed him on immediate administrative leave.
Re: BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:30 am
by Philo Sofee
I Have Questions wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:25 am
Perhaps part of his defence will be “she was in her 18th year”
Is he still a professor at Brigham young University and also a Sunday School teacher?
Oh he'll be promoted to either bishop or Stake Presidency.......
Re: BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2026 1:03 am
by malkie
Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:30 am
I Have Questions wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:25 am
Perhaps part of his defence will be “she was in her 18th year”
Is he still a professor at Brigham young University and also a Sunday School teacher?
Oh he'll be promoted to either bishop or Stake Presidency.......
As a former math & science teacher, and a former Sunday School teacher, I have nothing relevant to say.
But I feel sorry for his family, especially suspecting that more sordid details will emerge.
A smart guy like this must have known that "sting" operations are run by many police department task forces, and that there was a possibility he was the subject of such a task force. And yet there he is. I'm glad that (as far as I know) there were no real teen victims, and that he should be able to get help for whatever is going on in his head.
Re: BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2026 2:11 am
by drumdude
malkie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 1:03 am
Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:30 am
Oh he'll be promoted to either bishop or Stake Presidency.......
As a former math & science teacher, and a former Sunday School teacher, I have nothing relevant to say.
But I feel sorry for his family, especially suspecting that more sordid details will emerge.
A smart guy like this must have known that "sting" operations are run by many police department task forces, and that there was a possibility he was the subject of such a task force. And yet there he is. I'm glad that (as far as I know) there were no real teen victims, and that he should be able to get help for whatever is going on in his head.
He was probably trusted to teach primary at some point in his life before they let him teach Sunday school. It appears from his BYU faculty page that he has a very young daughter and is likely married. Bishops like to assign young couples as primary teachers.
This is why the church should be deeply ashamed that it felt like the completely delusional “power of discernment” was ever sufficient to protect children.
Re: BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2026 5:01 pm
by sock puppet
It seems that Mormons--is it okay to use that word again? or is it yet a major victory for Satan?--let their guard down when it comes to Church sponsored schools, institutions and events. People are people, and Mormons being people are flawed. This includes tendencies by a small percentage to be pedo's. This despite the claims of God the Omniscient giving the leaders powers of discernment. Sending your daughter to a BYU: is it safer than sending her to another university? No. The responsible parent--Mormon or otherwise--teaches his or her children to take pre-cautions and avoid getting into situations where they might be taken advantage of. Not to trust "brother so-and-so" because he's a Mormon, not even one that teaches at a BYU. Because of the sexual repression, there may actually be a greater propensity for such to occur among Mormons.
Re: BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 1:15 am
by I Have Questions
sock puppet wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 5:01 pm
It seems that Mormons--is it okay to use that word again? or is it yet a major victory for Satan?--let their guard down when it comes to Church sponsored schools, institutions and events. People are people, and Mormons being people are flawed. This includes tendencies by a small percentage to be pedo's. This despite the claims of God the Omniscient giving the leaders powers of discernment. Sending your daughter to a BYU: is it safer than sending her to another university? No. The responsible parent--Mormon or otherwise--teaches his or her children to take pre-cautions and avoid getting into situations where they might be taken advantage of. Not to trust "brother so-and-so" because he's a Mormon, not even one that teaches at a BYU. Because of the sexual repression, there may actually be a greater propensity for such to occur among Mormons.
Predators are always seeking ways to gain unfettered access to victims. The Church provides easy access for sexual predators to gain access to potential victims. Not only that, the Church promotes the idea to children that they can trust unrelated adults, even with deeply personal information. The Church knows this, it’s trying to settle hundreds of abuse cases, it might be thousands. And has been aware of the issue for a decade or more. Look at the Wade Christofferson situation, they even go so far as covering for sexual abusers and ensuring they can still gain access to victims even after they’ve been caught offending.
Re: BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 4:29 am
by Philo Sofee
malkie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 1:03 am
Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:30 am
Oh he'll be promoted to either bishop or Stake Presidency.......
As a former math & science teacher, and a former Sunday School teacher, I have nothing relevant to say.
But I feel sorry for his family, especially suspecting that more sordid details will emerge.
A smart guy like this must have known that "sting" operations are run by many police department task forces, and that there was a possibility he was the subject of such a task force. And yet there he is. I'm glad that (as far as I know) there were no real teen victims, and that he should be able to get help for whatever is going on in his head.
Yeah? What kind of math were you teaching? I'd love to hear about it a little. I love math, but it doesn't love me.
Re: BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 4:31 am
by Philo Sofee
sock puppet wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 5:01 pm
It seems that Mormons--is it okay to use that word again? or is it yet a major victory for Satan?--let their guard down when it comes to Church sponsored schools, institutions and events. People are people, and Mormons being people are flawed. This includes tendencies by a small percentage to be pedo's. This despite the claims of God the Omniscient giving the leaders powers of discernment. Sending your daughter to a BYU: is it safer than sending her to another university? No. The responsible parent--Mormon or otherwise--teaches his or her children to take pre-cautions and avoid getting into situations where they might be taken advantage of. Not to trust "brother so-and-so" because he's a Mormon, not even one that teaches at a BYU. Because of the sexual repression, there may actually be a greater propensity for such to occur among Mormons.
Yes, of course it is safe to use the word Mormon again. That old teaching is from a dead prophet, and what they taught don't count anymore. Only if Jesus doubles down with Oaks does it still remain relevant to reality and truth and victories for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Re: BYU math professor arrested for trying to be like Joseph
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 3:15 pm
by malkie
Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Sat Apr 25, 2026 4:29 am
malkie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 1:03 am
As a former math & science teacher, and a former Sunday School teacher, I have nothing relevant to say.
But I feel sorry for his family, especially suspecting that more sordid details will emerge.
A smart guy like this must have known that "sting" operations are run by many police department task forces, and that there was a possibility he was the subject of such a task force. And yet there he is. I'm glad that (as far as I know) there were no real teen victims, and that he should be able to get help for whatever is going on in his head.
Yeah? What kind of math were you teaching? I'd love to hear about it a little. I love math, but it doesn't love me.
I don't love math at all - I still (after almost 60 years) cannot figure out how I ended up with a degree in math.
In Scotland I taught high school math for a year - hated it, mostly due to the discipline aspects of the job, which I sucked at.
Then I taught college math - mostly to university 1st/2nd year engineer level - and really enjoyed that. The kids were not angels by any means, but the "line" was fairly clear and bright, and the penalty for going over was severe.
Here in Canada I taught math mainly as a part of my responsibilities as teacher/administrator in an adult upgrading program. The program was almost exclusively for people who dropped out of school in their teens due to drugs, pregnancy, or incarceration. I had some home-schooled kids as well who needed to pass the provincial exams, so I helped to bridge the gap. In that program I also taught English, computer basics + MS Office, basic coding in Python, and general science. This job I really, really liked. There wasn't much chalk-and-talk, but there was a lot of one-on-one or small group teaching.
And I have stories ...
- as does any teacher.