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A former Texas juvenile probation officer, Steven Dale Criddle, 51, of Bryan, was caught in a dark web sting for soliciting sex with an 11-year-old girl. On September 28, 2025, Criddle drove three hours to Wylie, Texas, to meet the girl, but was apprehended by law enforcement. He admitted to traveling to Wylie to sexually molest the girl and had child pornography on his phone.
Criddle pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and was sentenced to 190 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 1, 2026. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Anderson.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet.
The sentencing of Criddle sends a strong message that those who prey on vulnerable children will be held accountable. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute individuals who engage in such heinous crimes.
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