In Washington County, Tennessee, a former sheriff’s deputy faces serious charges after an investigation revealed he allegedly possessed over 100 images deemed as child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has confirmed that 27-year-old Jacob Byrd is now facing two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, both charges involving more than 100 images.
Byrd surrendered himself to authorities at the Sullivan County Jail on Friday morning, as reported by the TBI in an official statement.
The investigation by TBI agents commenced in September following a tip-off from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The center had identified “multiple files containing CSAM being distributed via accounts on platforms such as X, Discord, and Snapchat.”
The TBI’s release further disclosed that Byrd was working with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at the time the investigation began and was linked to the accounts used to disseminate the illicit materials.
A search warrant was executed at Byrd’s Sullivan County home, and authorities seized multiple electronics.
“Byrd was terminated from the sheriff’s office at the time the allegations surfaced,” the TBI stated.
A personnel action form from the WCSO states Byrd was fired on Oct. 23, 2025 for “violation of general orders.”
The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission decertified Byrd on March 19, 2026, according to the commission’s documentation.
A Sullivan County Grand Jury returned the indictments charging Byrd in May.