Two Men Charged with Child Exploitation in Steuben County

Corning resident and California man accused of inappropriate online communications with 15-year-old victim

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Two men, 20-year-old William Kibler of Corning, New York and 24-year-old Jacob Hanes of California, have been charged with felony promoting a sexual performance by a child less than 17 and endangering the welfare of a child. The charges stem from an investigation that began in November after the 15-year-old victim's parents found evidence of inappropriate online communications between the victim and the two adult men on Snapchat and Instagram.

Why it matters

Child exploitation and the online grooming of minors are serious crimes that can have long-lasting impacts on victims. This case highlights the need for parents to monitor their children's online activity and for law enforcement to aggressively investigate such allegations to protect vulnerable youth.

The details

According to the New York State Police, the investigation revealed that Kibler and Hanes participated in sexually explicit communications with the 15-year-old victim on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

  • The investigation began in November 2025 after the victim's parents found evidence of the inappropriate communications.
  • Kibler and Hanes were charged in February 2026.

The players

William Kibler

A 20-year-old resident of Corning, New York who has been charged with felony promoting a sexual performance by a child less than 17 and endangering the welfare of a child.

Jacob Hanes

A 24-year-old man from California who has been charged with felony promoting a sexual performance by a child less than 17 and endangering the welfare of a child.

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What’s next

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the judge will determine whether to allow Kibler and Hanes to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical importance of parents monitoring their children's online activity and the need for law enforcement to aggressively investigate allegations of child exploitation to protect vulnerable youth from predatory behavior.