Provo, UT – Detectives with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested a South Jordan man after an undercover online investigation allegedly uncovered attempts to exploit a child.
According to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began on September 26, 2025, when Joel T. Covington allegedly engaged in explicit online conversations with a detective posing as an 8-year-old child. Detectives reported Covington attempted to arrange meetings with the fictitious child and requested pictures.
Officials said Covington was employed as a nurse in a mental health facility. Detectives arrested him at his workplace on September 29 out of concern for public safety. Investigators stated that Covington allegedly admitted during questioning to the conversations and to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Authorities reported Covington was booked into the Utah County Jail on a charge of second-degree felony enticement of a minor, with no bail set. Detectives later obtained a search warrant for his electronic devices, where they allegedly found images of CSAM. Officials said they will be filing 10 additional second-degree felony charges for sexual exploitation of a minor.
The Sheriff’s Office commended its detectives for their work in the case.
