Caleb Sickinger, Receiving Child Pornography, Idaho 2023

Rigby Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography

Pocatello, ID – Caleb Sickinger, a 45-year-old man from Rigby, Idaho, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott today. The sentencing was handed down on an unknown date, however, it is stated in the report that Sickinger pleaded guilty to the charge on April 8, 2025.

According to court records, the investigation began in November 2023, when FBI agents in Alabama arrested an individual on charges of coercion and enticement and possession of child pornography. The individual told FBI agents that he had received images of child pornography from a “woman” in Idaho, who was identified as the defendant in this case, Caleb Sickinger.

Agents eventually learned that the woman had not been involved in the crime. Sickinger, a police officer at the time, admitted to falsely assuming the woman’s identity—without her knowledge—by utilizing images from her social media account. He also admitted to obtaining images of the child from social media and having the images digitally altered to appear as child pornography. Sickinger then distributed those altered images to the individual in Alabama.

Chief U.S. District David C. Nye also ordered Sickinger be placed on supervised release for the remainder of his life following his prison sentence. Sickinger will be required to register as a sex offender.

“This defendant victimized a child and her mother in committing this horrible crime,” Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said. “I commend the cooperative efforts of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agents who identified him as the perpetrator and held him appropriately accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Pocatello, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Idaho ICAC Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted this case.