Cheatham County TN man arrested for soliciting underage individual
Cheatham County TN man arrested for soliciting juvenile.
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An undercover investigation led to the arrest of a 20-year-old Ashland City man, Keith Taualii Choate, on charges of soliciting a minor in Cheatham County, Tennessee. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the FBI collaborated on the case, which began in July 2023.
Details of the Investigation
The TBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, working with the FBI, identified Choate as a suspect who had been communicating with who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. In reality, the person was an undercover special agent posing as a minor.
During their interactions, Choate allegedly sent sexually explicit messages and images to the perceived girl and requested explicit photos in return. The investigation revealed disturbing details of the suspect’s intentions, leading to his arrest.
Arrest and Charges
Keith Taualii Choate was apprehended in Williamson County with the assistance of the Ashland City Police Department and the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office. He faces one count of solicitation of a minor and one count of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor through electronic means.
Choate is currently detained at the Cheatham County Jail on a $50,000 bond as he awaits further legal proceedings related to the charges brought against him.
Reporting Online Child Exploitation
Individuals with information about online child exploitation are encouraged to contact the TBI tipline at 1-800-TBI-FIND or TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov. Reports can also be made via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cyber tipline at CyberTipline.org.
It is crucial for communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious online activities involving minors to the appropriate authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of children.
For more updates on crime news in Middle Tennessee, visit Crime Tracker.
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Cheatham County TN man arrested soliciting minor
Cheatham County TN man arrested for soliciting underage.
