A deputy sheriff in Tennessee was taken into custody last week on accusations involving child pornography and a purported text exchange with a 13-year-old from South Carolina, leading his superior to openly condemn him as “disgusting” while placing the officer on administrative leave.
“I am furious over the alleged actions … and the disgusting nature of these charges,” Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett said in a Dec. 5 statement. “The HCSO holds our personnel to the highest of standards and this type of alleged behavior will not be tolerated.”
Johnathan Allen, a 25-year-old corrections deputy who completed a basic law enforcement academy on November 1 and has been employed by HCSO since 2021, is facing serious charges including three counts related to the exploitation of a minor and one count of criminal solicitation for allegedly engaging in inappropriate communication with a 13-year-old in South Carolina.
The victim’s father discovered the texting and contacted law enforcement in York County, South Carolina, who subsequently traced the messages back to Allen. According to WRCB, an individual in a position of authority reportedly connected with a young person on a social platform under the alias “Josh” and initiated private conversations with the minor.
According to police, the communications began with inappropriate content, as Allen reportedly sought images and videos from the minor. According to police, the sole indication he provided regarding his age was a remark made during a phone call, where Allen asserted that he had “already gone through puberty” when asked about the adult tone of his voice.
The details surrounding whether Allen and the minor had intentions to meet face-to-face remain uncertain.
Allen is being charged with the following in South Carolina:
• (3) Counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
• (1) Count of Criminal Solicitation of a Minor
Last Wednesday, the York County Sheriff’s Office sought an arrest warrant from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The following day, a digital search of Allen’s electronic devices was conducted, ultimately resulting in his arrest.
“I have immediately placed him on Administrative Leave pending a pre-disciplinary hearing that will be held in the immediate future per Civil Service rules,” Garrett said in his statement. “In addition to the ongoing criminal investigation, an HCSO Internal Affairs investigation has also been initiated.”
Police have stated that Allen will be on paid leave for 14 days while he awaits his pre-disciplinary hearing. After the two-week period is completed, the Chattanooga Times Free Press indicates that he will enter a phase of unpaid leave and face a disciplinary hearing.
A recent report reveals that Allen marks the third deputy from Hamilton County to face arrest within the last three months. In September, a jail deputy was dismissed following a DUI charge, and shortly thereafter, another deputy was let go for allegedly making threats to a student at Cleveland State Community College.