Authorities in the United States have charged a man from Calgary following a multi-agency undercover investigation into online child exploitation.
Arrest and Charges Following Undercover Operation
Kelly Maier, 41, was arrested in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on December 18, 2025. According to Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, Maier has been charged with one count of enticing a minor. U.S. media reports identify the accused as a truck driver from Calgary, Alberta.
The arrest was the culmination of an investigation led by Idaho’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, which received assistance from several local law enforcement agencies across the state.
Details of the Undercover Sting
As detailed in reports from East Idaho News, the investigation began on December 8 when a detective with the ICAC task force was operating online using a fabricated profile posing as a teenage girl. A user, claiming to be a 37-year-old man, initiated contact with the profile.
After the undercover officer stated the fictional girl was 14 years old, the man continued the conversation. He identified himself as a truck driver and instructed the "girl" to call him "daddy." The communication allegedly progressed to the man arranging a meeting at a gas station, where officers were waiting to take him into custody.
Official Response and Upcoming Court Date
In a public statement, Attorney General Raul Labrador praised the coordinated law enforcement effort. "Thanks to the strong partnerships we’ve built with law enforcement across Idaho, individuals like this are being arrested for these terrible crimes against children and families," Labrador said.
He added, "When agencies coordinate like this, those who threaten our kids get removed from our streets. I am grateful for these partnerships and the commitment every officer brings to protecting Idaho’s children."
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for January 13, 2026, in the Bonneville County Magistrate Court. The charges highlight the ongoing cross-border efforts by law enforcement to combat online child exploitation through proactive undercover operations.
