Battalion boss: He allegedly made sexual overtures in Internet messages to a law officer posing as a girl
By Stephen Hunt
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
A high-ranking fire official charged with Internet sex crimes was freed from the Salt Lake County jail Wednesday after a psychological evaluation approving his release. This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.4] at IP [10.148.8.4].
Dennis Steadman - a Unified Fire Authority battalion chief - was arraigned Wednesday in 3rd District Court on two second-degree felony counts of enticing a minor over the Internet.
Steadman, 54, allegedly made sexual overtures in messages sent to a police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl on the Internet, according to the charges.
Steadman was arrested Feb. 16 when he arrived at a Salt Lake City location to meet the "girl."
Steadman allegedly told officers with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that he frequently talked to children regarding sexual matters and has viewed child pornography on the Internet. He also said he felt he had a "problem" and expressed a desire to participate in therapy, according to the charges.
Assistant Utah Attorney General Paul Amann said Steadman - under the screen name "fireman994" - had acknowledged using a computer at the Draper fire station for online chats.
A task force official said they were tipped to Steadman's activities by police, who had received complaints from several people.
"We knew he was out there [online]," Amann said, but he added it was pure "serendipity" that the officer and Steadman met in cyberspace.
"It was a standard sting," Amann said. "It was him contacting us. It was not our intent to go after 'fire- man994.' "
Judge Denise Lindberg said Wednesday that Steadman, who was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, could be released on his own recognizance, but she ordered he have no Internet access and no contact with minors.
Steadman's next court appearance is a scheduling hearing set for March 3 before Judge Dennis Fuchs.
Defense attorney Greg Skordas said he could not comment on the case because he had not yet seen the police reports. But he said that Steadman was in "good spirits," given the circumstances.
Contacted at his home Wednesday, Steadman, on advice from his attorney, declined comment.
Steadman - who was placed on administrative leave after his arrest - is a 30-year firefighting veteran and one of 12 battalion chiefs assigned to cover the southern end of Salt Lake County. He was frequently quoted by the news media.