Idaho AG Charges Meridian Man with Child Enticement

AG: Idaho Newsroom

Filed March 5th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

The Idaho Attorney General's Office announced charges against Charles Peterson, a Meridian man, for four counts of enticing a child. The arrest was made by the Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit in coordination with local and out-of-state law enforcement agencies.

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What changed

The Idaho Attorney General's Office has charged Charles Peterson, a 52-year-old Meridian man, with four counts of enticing a child. The charges stem from an investigation by the Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, which collaborated with the Layton Police Department (Utah), Ada County Sheriff's Office, and Meridian Police Department. Peterson was arrested on February 3, 2026, following a request for assistance from Utah authorities regarding similar pending charges.

This action highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation facilitated through the internet. Regulated entities and legal professionals should be aware of the ICAC Unit's work and the inter-agency cooperation involved in prosecuting such offenses. While no specific compliance actions are required for general regulated entities, this case underscores the importance of vigilance and reporting mechanisms for child exploitation, with resources available through ICACIdaho.org and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

What to do next

Review ICAC Idaho resources for child exploitation prevention and reporting.
Ensure internal policies address reporting obligations related to child exploitation if applicable.

Source document (simplified)

Home Newsroom Attorney General Labrador’s Office Charges Meridian Man for Alleged Enticement of a Child

BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador has announced that a Meridian man was charged in Idaho on March 5, 2026, with 4 counts of enticing a child. Investigators with the Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit arrested Charles Peterson (52) on February 3, 2026, after receiving a request for assistance from the Layton Police Department on similar charges now pending in Utah. The charges listed above are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

**“Our ICAC investigators do critical work to protect children in Idaho, and I’m grateful for the partnerships we’ve built with local law enforcement across the state and country,”* said Attorney General Labrador. “This arrest reflects the dedication of our team and the agencies working together to keep our communities and families safe.”*

The ICAC unit partnered with the Layton Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and Merdian Police Department for this arrest.

The Attorney General’s ICAC Unit works with the Idaho ICAC Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children.

Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.

Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.