Man allegedly posted explicit pictures of children

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The Tipton County Sheriff’s Office says a cyber tip helped them put a suspected child molester behind bars.

Sheriff Shannon Beasley said 24-year-old James Owen III was arrested Wednesday at his home on Saw Mill Road for allegedly posting sexually explicit images of children online.

The sheriff’s office said it received a tip last month from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force about the posting of sexually explicit material for children on social media.

Sheriff Beasley said during the investigation, detectives identified Owen as the device owner who posted the explicit material. He said they took several electronic devices from the residence, which will be examined for additional child sexually explicit material.

“Thanks to the diligent work of our investigators and partners on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, another child predator is behind bars. There is no place in our county for those who commit crimes against children other than the Tipton County Jail. They may think they can hide behind technology and prey on defenseless children, but this case and others like it prove that is not possible,” said Sheriff Beasley.

Owen is being held in the Tipton County Jail on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information about this or similar cases to contact Criminal Investigation at (901)475-3300 or dispatch at (901)475-4300.

You can also leave a tip at (901)475-3307 or email it to [email protected].