USU Police warn students about man police describe as a “threat” to campus

Utah State University Police are asking students and faculty to call 911 if they see Lonnie Kent Nyman, who police said is a “threat to the campus community.”

Nyman, 44, was arrested Tuesday and let out on bail for “dealing harmful materials,” “seducing and luring a minor by internet,” “obstructing justice, “sexual exploitation of a minor” and “witness tampering,” four are felonies and one is a Class A Misdemeanor.

USU spokesman Tim Vitale said Nyman has “personal ties to a student on campus,” but did not elaborate on the details of those ties.

Court documents state Nyman messaged a child on the LGBT dating app “Grindr,” though he knew the child’s age. During their conversation, Nyman sent the minor three pictures of his penis and a video of two adults engaging in sexual acts. The child also sent Nyman three sexually explicit images, the documents state.

After a series of messages were sent between the two, Nyman proposed a meeting to engage in sexual activities. The child originally agreed, but felt uncomfortable when the two met up and did not engage in the sexual acts, the documents state.

On or about April 10, Nyman’s wife found images of the minor on his iPad, and a week later, she gave the iPad to law enforcement. On April 24, Nyman told the child to lie to police and tell them “all we did was visit.”

The Utah Attorney General’s Office filed charges against Nyman in First District Court on Tuesday.

Police warned students in a Code Blue alert not to approach Nyman.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.