Former Washington County Deputy Indicted on Child Sexual Abuse Charges
Former Washington County deputy Jacob Byrd faces child sexual abuse charges after TBI investigation linked him to distribution of illegal material on social media platforms.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, TENNESSEE — A former Washington County sheriff’s deputy was indicted this week on child sexual abuse material charges following an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Cybercrime and Digital Evidence Unit.
Jacob Byrd, 27, turned himself in this morning and was booked into the Sullivan County Jail on a $50,000 bond. A Sullivan Grand Jury returned indictments charging Byrd with two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor — Over 100 Images.
Investigation Began in September
TBI agents launched their investigation in September 2025 after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding multiple files containing child sexual abuse material being distributed through accounts on X, Discord, and Snapchat. During the investigation, agents identified Byrd as the user of the accounts while he was still employed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Byrd’s residence in Sullivan County and seized numerous electronics. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office terminated Byrd when the allegations surfaced.
Rising Trend in Online Crimes Against Children
The case highlights an increase in crimes targeting children online. The TBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Squad, comprised of four dedicated special agents, was assigned 957 cases in 2024. That number rose to more than 1,500 cases in 2025, according to the bureau.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation emphasized that the charges and allegations are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. Byrd is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
Anyone with information about cases of online child exploitation can contact the TBI Tipline at 1-800-TBI-FIND or report via the NCMEC Cyber Tipline at CyberTipline.org.
