State police have charged two men after investigators uncovered sexually explicit online communications with a 15-year-old girl in Steuben County.
William M. Kibler, 20, of Corning, and Jacob A. Hanes, 24, of Palm Desert, California, both face felony and misdemeanor charges following the investigation.
The New York State Police said the case began in late November 2025 after the victim’s parents discovered information showing inappropriate online communications between their daughter and adult males.
Troopers from SP Painted Post started the investigation. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation later took over the case.
Investigators determined that Kibler and Hanes engaged in sexually explicit communications with the teen through social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram. Police said both men knew she was under 17.
Forensic analysis of electronic devices confirmed the exchange of sexually explicit images and videos, according to state police.
Authorities located Hanes in Niagara County on December 30, 2025. Officers took him into custody without incident and transported him to Steuben County for processing and arraignment.
On February 12, Kibler voluntarily went to SP Painted Post for an interview. Troopers then arrested him and remanded him to the Steuben County Jail pending centralized arraignment.
Both men were charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child less than 17, a Class D felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor.
The New York State Police said the investigation remains ongoing. Troopers from Troop A, the Troop E Computer Crimes Unit, and the Steuben County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the case.
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