Benjamin Robert Hicks

Sources

1. New details emerge about Rexburg man arrested for child exploitation, BYU Idaho Scroll, October 31, 2023.
2. Rexburg man arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of a child, East Idaho News, October 19, 2023.
3. Rexburg man sentenced after asking for sexual photos from undercover cop posing as teen, East Idaho News, October 14, 2024.
4. Resident/Client Search Details for Benjamin Robert Hicks , Idaho Department of Corrections, February 18, 2026.
5. Benjamin Robert Hicks, Offender Radar, February 18, 2026.
6. CR34-23-03244 | State of Idaho Plaintiff, vs. Benjamin Robert Hicks Defendant (Sexual Abuse Felony), Idaho Court Records, October 17, 2023.

• 1. New details emerge about Rexburg man arrested for child exploitation

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  • BYU Idaho Scroll

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  A Rexburg man, Benjamin Robert Hicks, was sharing explicit photos of underage girls, and was arrested for child exploitation earlier this month, according to court documents published Thursday.

  Hicks, 22, was arrested on Oct. 17 on five counts of distribution of sexually exploitative material. All the materials involved girls under the age of 13.

  In newly released court documents, a Rupert police detective, who is an affiliate investigator with the Idaho Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, said he created a Kik Messenger account disguised as a 13-year-old Minidoka County girl to investigate child predators.

  Hicks allegedly initiated a conversation with the detective’s fake persona under the name Aaron Johnson. The accused eventually began requesting explicit content from the girl.

  Despite the repeated mentions of her age, Hicks continued to press for images and sex, even claiming that he was a student at BYU-Idaho.

  Hicks later made contact with the “girl’s“ ex-boyfriend who she said had photos of her. The ex-boyfriend was another persona created by the detective.

  In five separate instances, Hicks shared sexually explicit material of females under the age of 13 with the “boyfriend.”

  The detective found the IP address Hicks allegedly used to send the explicit content. It had already been assigned by CyberTipline to the ICAC Task Force for uploading child pornography to Facebook.

  Hicks faces charges in Minidoka County. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum of a $50,000 fine or both.

  All defendants are innocent until proven guilty.

  If you believe you or someone else is a victim of sexual exploitation, contact local law enforcement or CyberTipline.

• 2. Rexburg man arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of a child

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  • East Idaho News

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  REXBURG — A 22-year-old Rexburg man has been arrested by law enforcement on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child.

  Benjamin Hicks was taken into custody after a three-month-long investigation. A Minidoka County judge granted an arrest warrant for Hicks.

  The Rupert Police Department, the Rexburg Police Department, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Idaho Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed the warrant on Tuesday in Rexburg, according to a news release.

  Witnesses told EastIdahoNews.com there were multiple special investigation agents at a Rexburg apartment complex Tuesday. Witnesses observed Hicks being taken into custody.

  “The Rupert Police Department extends its profound appreciation to the dedicated personnel…for their invaluable assistance in this complex case,” the release said from the Rupert Police Department.

  Hicks has been booked into the Madison County jail.

  No other information has been released.

• 3. Rexburg man sentenced after asking for sexual photos from undercover cop posing as teen

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  • East Idaho News

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  REXBURG — A Rexburg man has been sentenced after talking to an undercover officer he thought was a 13-year-old girl, asking for sexual content and for sharing child pornography.

  Benjamin Hicks, 23, was recently sentenced in Minidoka County District Court by Judge Jonathan Brody to a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20. The judge then retained jurisdiction, placing Hicks on a “rider program” where he will complete a treatment program in prison for one year.

  Once the program is over, the judge can decide whether to send Hicks to prison for his given sentence or release him on probation.

  Since he has been convicted, he is also required to register as a sex offender.

  Hicks was initially charged with five felonies for distribution of child sexually exploitative material last year in October.

  However, Hicks took a plea agreement this year. He pleaded guilty to one of the charges, and four charges were dismissed.

  RELATED | Rexburg man wanted sex, inappropriate photos from undercover cop posing as 13-year-old girl, court documents say

  RELATED | Rexburg man arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of a child
  Background

  According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by the Rupert Police Department, a detective with the department was on the social media platform Kik last year, posing as a 13-year-old girl.

  The detective initially engaged in a non-sexual conversation with Hicks. However, the conversation took a sexual turn when Hicks started asking for sexual content.

  Hicks requested the 13-year-old child take sexual photos of herself for him. The detective, who was posing as the girl, refused to comply.

  Throughout the conversation, Hicks reportedly continued to ask for sexual images, court documents said.

  During the conversation, Hicks told the detective he was from Rexburg, was 22 (at the time), was married, worked at night at an assisted living facility, and was a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho.

  Hicks reportedly told the detective posing as the girl, he wanted to travel to Rupert to have sexual relations with her. Several times throughout the conversation, the detective told Hicks the fake persona was a 13-year-old girl.

  However, it did not deter him, and he continued to ask for sex and nude photos, according to court documents.

  Later, Hicks sent child pornography involving a 12-year-old girl to the detective, who was posing as other personas to communicate with Hicks. Hicks continued sending explicit videos of girls between the ages of three and 14 years old to the undercover detective, court documents said. The videos showed the girls being sexually abused.

  Click here to read the full story.

  Eventually, Hicks was taken into custody after a three-month-long investigation.

  CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Hicks’ sentence. This version of the article is correct. EastIdahoNews.com apologizes for the error.

• 4. Resident/Client Search Details for Benjamin Robert Hicks

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  • Idaho Department of Corrections

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  IDOC Sentence Information
  Data current as of: 5:05 am, Wednesday, February 18, 2026

  Benjamin Robert Hicks
  IDOC #: 159091
  Status: In community
  Age: 24
  Supervising District
  District 7 - Idaho Falls
  2225 W. Broadway St., Suite A
  Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402

  Supervising Officer
  Hollingsworth, John

  Phone Number
  2085284220

  The sentence information shown is for active sentences under the jurisdiction, custody and/or supervision of the Idaho Department of Correction only.
  Resident/Client Search Details for Benjamin Robert Hicks Offense Sentencing County Case No. Status Released to Supervision* Sentence Satisfaction Date
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means Minidoka CR34-23-03244 Probation 06/24/2025 06/23/2029

  *Released to Supervision refers to the date the individual was most recently placed on a period of supervision by the Court or the Parole Commission. For non-Idaho parole/probation, please contact the Supervising District for help in determining when this case was transferred to Idaho supervision.

• 5. Benjamin Robert Hicks

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  • Registered sex offender record
  • Offender Radar

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  IMPORTANT OFFENDER DATA

  Status : COMPLIANT

  PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

  DOB : 07-13-2001
  Sex : MALE
  Height : 6'00"
  Weight : 200
  Race : WHITE
  Hair Color : BROWN
  Eye Color : BROWN

  OFFENSES

  Offense : SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A CHILD
  Date Convicted : 09-03-2024
  Statute : 18-1507
  Conviction Location : MINIDOKA ID

  REGISTRATION DETAILS

  Date Verification : 06-27-2025
  Collected From : Idaho State Registry

  ALIAS

  CARTER,AARON
  CARTER,BENJAMIN

• 6. CR34-23-03244 | State of Idaho Plaintiff, vs. Benjamin Robert Hicks Defendant (Sexual Abuse Felony)

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  • Court record
  • Idaho Court Records

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  Case Information

  CR34-23-03244 | State of Idaho Plaintiff, vs. Benjamin Robert Hicks Defendant.

  Case Number
  CR34-23-03244

  Court
  Minidoka County District Court

  Judicial Officer
  Cotten, W. Reed

  File Date
  10/17/2023

  Case Type
  Criminal

  Case Status
  Closed

  Charge
  Charges
  Hicks, Benjamin Robert
  Description Statute Level Date
  1 Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means I18-1507(2)(d) Felony 08/28/2023
  2 Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means I18-1507(2)(d) Felony 08/28/2023
  3 Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means I18-1507(2)(d) Felony 08/28/2023
  4 Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means I18-1507(2)(d) Felony 08/28/2023
  5 Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means I18-1507(2)(d) Felony 08/28/2023

  Disposition Events

  06/11/2024 Plea

  Judicial Officer
  Brody, Jonathan P.
  1
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  Guilty

  11/28/2023 Plea

  Judicial Officer
  Brody, Jonathan P.
  1
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  None
  2
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  None
  3
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  None
  4
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  None
  5
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  None

  09/03/2024 Disposition

  Judicial Officer
  Brody, Jonathan P.
  1
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  Guilty (Plea Agreement)

  09/03/2024 Disposition

  Judicial Officer
  Brody, Jonathan P.
  2
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  Dismissed on Motion of Prosecutor
  3
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  Dismissed on Motion of Prosecutor
  4
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  Dismissed on Motion of Prosecutor
  5
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  Dismissed on Motion of Prosecutor

  09/03/2024 Felony Sentence
  1
  Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

  Felony Sentence