A registered sex offender has been arrested in Columbia following an investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation of a minor.
The Columbia Police Department said the investigation began after the department joined the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in July. Shortly after joining, investigators received their first tip through the ICAC information center.
On July 31, Columbia police officers and investigators, working alongside the ICAC Task Force, executed a search warrant at a home in Columbia as part of the investigation.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of a 46-year-old man who police said has previous convictions for sex crimes involving children and is listed on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry.
He has been charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. He is being held in the Maury County Jail.
Police said investigators are continuing to analyze evidence collected during the search, and additional charges are expected.
Chief Jeremy Haywood stated “I am extremely pleased to announce that The Columbia Police Department is now a member of The ICAC Taskforce. This step will aid our investigators in their efforts to locate and hold accountable those individuals who are targeting innocent children. An abundance of investigative effort and time goes into these types of cases, and I am proud of the work of the investigators and partner agencies involved with this first ICAC case.”
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