According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief…

According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick O'Meara, who is the Director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, a Utica man has been arrested for having inappropriate contact with an underage female child.

The investigation began on April 4, 2023, when the Child Advocacy Center was notified that Steven Hoyle, age 36, had sexual contact with a 9-year-old female child. The case was assigned to Sheriff’s Investigator Mark R. Chrysler.

Investigator Chrysler’s investigation revealed that Hoyle had subjected the child to several acts of lewd and inappropriate sexual behavior over a period of time.

The case was later turned over to the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, who presented the case to a Grand Jury on January 17, 2024. Hoyle was indicted on January 18, 2024, on charges of Predatory Sexual Assault of a Child, a Class AII Felony, and Rape in the 1st Degree, a Class B Felony. An arrest warrant was issued for Hoyle’s arrest and turned over to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Warrants Unit.

Through the Sheriff’s Warrants Unit investigation, it was learned that Hoyle was in the New York City area. Members of the Warrants Unit, who are also part of the United States Marshal’s Service - New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (Utica Division), sent the lead to the New York City Division of the United States Marshal’s Service - New York/New Jersey Regional Task Force. The New York City Division followed the lead and arrested Hoyle in New York City on February 7, 2024, without incident.

Hoyle was turned over to the Utica Division of the Task Force and extradited back to Oneida County that same day.

Hoyle was arraigned in Oneida County Court in front of Honorable Robert Bauer on February 8, 2024. Hoyle was remanded to the Oneida County Jail and held without bail.

Services have been offered to the victim by the Child Advocacy Center and an order of protection was issued on behalf of the child.