Former Deputy Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

James B. Dunn, District Attorney General for the Fourth Judicial District, announce that Timothy Paul Tewell, 47, has pleaded guilty in jefferson County Circuit Court on Monday, July 1, 2019 to Aggravated Sexual Battery and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. He received a sentence of eight years as a range I offender to be served at 100%.

The case stems from an incident on November 14, 2018 when a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children revealed and online dropbox user with an email address belonging to Timothy Paul Tewell. Contained in the drop box were sixty- three videos and thirty-eight images confirmed to be child pornography. Tewell was interviewed on January 9, 2019 and admitted to receiving and viewing the child pornography contained in the dropbox.

During the investigation, it was discovered that on August 12, 2018 Tewell had entered the room of a minor child and engaged in unlawful sexual contact by placing the minor’s hand on hid genitals while the victim was sleeping.

The crime was investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Circuit Court Clerk Judge O. Duane Slone accepted the plea. Assistant District Attorney G. Alan Dover prosecuted the case on behalf of the state.