A probation officer with the Utah Department of Corrections has been arrested after allegedly soliciting explicit photos and videos from a woman under his supervision, according to court documents and law enforcement officials.
William Quinn Stickney, 37, was taken into custody Thursday and booked into the Utah County Jail on six counts of soliciting sexually explicit conduct from a person in custody and one count of official misconduct. Stickney had recently been assigned to the Provo Adult Probation and Parole Office.
Investigation Details
Detectives say the victim, who was under Stickney’s supervision, reported that she had been in an inappropriate relationship with him. She provided investigators with text messages that showed the probation officer using a personal phone to communicate outside of official channels.
One message allegedly sent by Stickney read:
“I could get in trouble for giving you my personal [number], but I need you to talk to me. We can say and do whatever on this one.”
Court filings indicate that Stickney continued to exchange sexually explicit messages with the woman. Detectives also recovered deleted conversations suggesting an intimate relationship between the officer and the person in custody.
Officer’s Admission and Department Response
According to the probable cause statement, Stickney initially claimed that he contacted the woman because she was a fugitive and he was trying to return her to custody. He later admitted to developing “personal feelings” toward her, confirming that their exchanges went beyond professional communication.
The Utah Department of Corrections has placed Stickney on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation and internal review.
Broader Context
Officials say the department maintains a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct, particularly when it involves individuals in state custody or under community supervision. Soliciting or engaging in sexual contact with someone in custody violates both state law and departmental ethics standards.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges could follow if more evidence emerges.
