KPD e-News Release: Suspect in Custody in Joint K.P.D./S.C.S.O. Internet Crimes Against Children (I.C.A.C.) Investigation

	Kingsport Police Department 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com
NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT:		Suspect in Custody in Joint K.P.D./S.C.S.O. Internet Crimes Against Children (I.C.A.C.) Investigation
DATE:		November 19, 2014

GENERAL NARRATIVE

On November 7, 2014 at approximately 1:30 PM a citizen turned in an item of found property to the Kingsport Police Department. He stated that while shopping at a local auto parts store on the afternoon of October 25, 2014, he had found a micro SD memory card on the floor. Thinking he might have some use for it, he picked it up and took it home.

Almost two weeks passed before he looked at the contents of the memory card, but when he did, he found a significant amount of disturbing images of child pornography. He immediately turned the memory card over to the Kingsport Police Department.

This discovery launched an in-depth joint investigation by the Kingsport Police Department and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (I.C.A.C.) Units in an effort to determine the source of the memory card. It was found to contain over 100 images of nude minor children involved in sexual acts with other minors and/or adults. After a thorough forensic analysis of the memory card, it was traced back to a suspect identified as Jimmy Travis Cole.

On November 18, 2014, K.P.D. and S.C.S.O. Investigators located and interviewed Mr. Cole at his residence in Sullivan County outside the city limits of Kingsport. During the interview, Mr. Cole confirmed losing his micro SD memory card approximately one month ago while transporting it in his pocket, acknowledged that he regularly frequents the auto parts store where it was found, and admitted to receiving and sending child pornography using his cellular telephone.

Mr. Cole was arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Possession of over 100 Images of Child Pornography) which is a Class B felony. He was transported to the Sullivan County Jail where he is being held pending a $50,000 bond. The investigation into the discovery of these images is ongoing.

SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name	Jimmy Travis Cole
Age	Date of Birth 2/14/1979 35 Years of Age
Race/Gender	White/Male
Residency	Address not released by the Kingsport Police Department Sullivan County outside the city limits of Kingsport, TN
Charge(s)	Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Possession of over 100 Images of Child Pornography) Class B Felony