The 30-year-old man accused of sexual exploitation of a minor was indicted by the Grand Jurors of Warren County.
Eddie Pease Jr. was indicted on Jan. 12 for one count of sexual exploitation of a minor through electronic means and one count of solicitation of a person under 18 years old. Pease was arrested at the end of November following a TBI investigation. According to the warrant, on June 20, Pease committed the act of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means. He reportedly had a conversation on the messaging application, “KIK” where he solicited sexual activity with a minor he believed to be 14 years old.
The indictment on count one states, “on or about the 20th day of June 2023, in Warren County, Tennessee, and before the finding of this indictment, being over the age of 18, by means of oral, written or electronic communication, electronic mail or Internet service, including webcam communications, directly or through another, did intentionally command, hire, persuade, induce or cause a minor to engage in sexual activity or simulated sexual activity that is patently offensive where such sexual activity or simulated sexual activity is observed by that person or by another, constituting the offense of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means.”
During his preliminary hearing in December, Special Agent Criminal Investigator for the TBI Kevin Starr testified that Pease was speaking to a detective operating undercover who he believed to be a 14 years old. Starr testified Pease asked if the minor would have sex with him if he was there, asked if his penis was erect and asked about the minor’s bodily excretions.
The indictment for count two states Pease, “did by means of oral, written or electronic communication, electronic mail or Internet services, directly or through another, intentionally command, request, hire, persuade, invite or attempt to induce S.G., a person Eddie Dwight Pease Jr. knows, or should know, is less than 18 years of age, to engage in conduct that, if completed would constitute a violation by Eddie Dwight Pease Jr. of the following offense: sexual exploitation of a minor through electronic means constituting the offense of solicitation of a minor to engage in sexual exploitation of a minor through electronic means.”