A U.S. Navy sailor stationed in Augusta, Georgia, has been indicted on several federal charges after allegedly manipulating a 14-year-old girl over social media and exchanging sexually explicit material with her.
Bryce Lucas Stimka, 24, was arrested on July 30, 2025. According to court documents, between July 17, 2024 and March 30, 2025, Stimka is accused of communicating with the minor through social media platforms. Over this period, more than 15,000 text messages were exchanged between Stimka and the victim discussing various sex acts, the victim’s age, and their potential relationship. Authorities allege that sexually explicit images and videos of the victim were also exchanged during this time. Investigators linked the social media account to Stimka using subscriber information such as IP addresses and photographs matching his identity.
Stimka faces charges including production of child pornography, coercion and enticement for illegal sexual activity, and receipt of child pornography. His initial appearance in Utah federal court has not yet been scheduled.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah announced the indictment.
The investigation is being conducted by an officer from the West Valley Police Department assigned to the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Additional support came from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the FBI Atlanta Field Office’s Augusta Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Carol A. Dain is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation online by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to identify offenders and protect victims. More details about Project Safe Childhood are available at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
“An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
