Former WCSO, TN deputy indicted for sexual exploitation of a minor

A former deputy of the Washington County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office has been indicted after he was allegedly found in possession of more than 100 images classified as child sexual abuse materials. The TBI says that 27 year old Jacob Byrd has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor with over 100 images. Byrd turned himself in to the Sullivan County Jail Friday morning. Agents began investigating in September after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided information on “multiple files containing child sexual abuse material being distributed through social media accounts belonging to Byrd. Byrd was employed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at the time of the investigation. A search warrant was executed at Byrd’s Sullivan County home with authorities seizing multiple electronics. Byrd was terminated from the sheriff’s office at the time the allegations surfaced in October of 2025. The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission decertified Byrd on March 19, 2026 and a Sullivan County Grand Jury returned the indictments charging Byrd in May.