Rigby, Idaho Man Charged With Rape of 13-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Met on Grindr App
Rigby Man Faces Felony Charges Nearly Three Years After Alleged Crimes
IDAHO FALLS — A sex abuse case involving a Rigby man is moving forward nearly three years after the alleged crimes occurred. Steven Ernst Simcask, 43, faces felony charges of rape, lewd conduct with a child, and enticing a child through the internet for allegations involving a 13-year-old boy that stem from incidents in 2023.
According to a police booking affidavit, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded on August 5, 2023, to a report of a rape involving the 13-year-old victim. Court documents state that Simcask met the boy on Grindr, a dating app marketed toward gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer men.
The boy’s mother told deputies she learned of the alleged abuse from the mother of one of her son’s friends and then confronted her son directly. She told police her son admitted he had used Grindr and communicated with a 40-year-old man named Steven Simsack. She believed the incidents occurred between July 4 and July 28 of 2023, though she was unsure of the exact number of meetings or their duration. Further investigation by law enforcement identified Steven Simsack as a resident of Rigby.
A month after the initial report, during a forensic interview at the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center, the 13-year-old confirmed to investigators that he met Simcask on Grindr in early summer, shortly after school let out. The two then moved their communications to Snapchat, according to the affidavit.
Alleged Abuse Occurred Multiple Times, Investigators Say
The boy told investigators he met with Simcask approximately five times, including at Simcask’s home in Rigby. According to the affidavit, the first in-person meeting involved Simcask taking the teen to a remote area near some windmills, referred to by the boy as a “mountain place,” where the first alleged sexual assault took place. The boy also told investigators the alleged abuse occurred at Simcask’s home on subsequent meetings.
The court documents further state that the boy told investigators Simcask guided him on what to say if law enforcement ever became involved — and that when the teen confronted Simcask about the abuse, the man pretended not to know what had occurred. Investigators also noted that the boy and Simcask exchanged explicit photos and videos. A download of the boy’s phone, according to the affidavit, revealed a video Simcask allegedly sent showing a naked man.
A warrant for Simcask’s arrest was obtained in March 2024 and served on April 22 of that year. However, Simcask was at the time incarcerated in Arizona on an unrelated matter. Court documents filed by Simcask included a request to dismiss the Idaho case, which Magistrate Judge Wiley Dennert later denied. A search of Arizona’s crime repository shows Simcask had pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated DUI in October 2024.
Simcask appeared in person for his initial appearance on April 23, 2026, and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. on May 6 before Magistrate Judge John Dewey in Bonneville County.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the exploitation of minors through social media and dating applications, a threat law enforcement agencies across East Idaho and the broader state have increasingly warned parents about. Residents concerned about other suspicious criminal activity in the area can also review recent public safety reports, including a local drug case in which authorities say methamphetamine was mailed directly to a suspect’s home.
What Comes Next
Simcask is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. His preliminary hearing, scheduled for May 6 before Magistrate Judge John Dewey, will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial. If convicted on the felony rape charge, Simcask faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison under Idaho law. Bonneville County News will continue to follow this case as it moves through the court system. For additional public safety and statewide crime coverage, visit Idaho News.