Jerseyville man charged with soliciting Edwardsville child after sex sting

A Jerseyville man was charged last week with indecent solicitation of a child, solicitation to meet a child and grooming after an Edwardsville Police Department sting.

Kyle Kniffen, 30, of the 400 block of Fairview in Jerseyville, was charged April 23 with indecent solicitation of a child, a Class 1 felony, and solicitation to meet a child and grooming, both Class 4 felonies.

Court records show the charges were sealed until April 28.

The Edwardsville Police Department investigated the case.

According to court documents, between March 28 and April 21, Kniffen solicited someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl to perform sex acts; used a computer or other device to arrange meetings at a bike trail and a residence in Edwardsville to commit what authorities described as a predatory criminal sexual assault; and used electronic devices to "seduce, solicit, lure or entice" the victim.

Kniffen was remanded to jail.

According to a petition to deny pretrial release filed by the Madison County State's Attorney's Office, in January a detective with the Edwardsville Police Department created a covert Facebook account posing as a 12-year-old girl.

On March 27, Kniffen sent a friend request and asked the "girl" her age. He then asked her to engage in sexual acts and instructed her about sexual acts.

He eventually requested to meet the girl on a bike trail and then go back to her home.

The petition states, "At all times, there was no indication to believe the defendant believed he was talking to anybody besides a 12-year-old Edwardsville girl."

The petition also states that Kniffen "has been previously investigated for committing acts against children."

This individual has only been charged and remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges may not be reported.

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