COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Putnam County commissioner is facing charges for child pornography, according to a federal criminal complaint.
District Nine Commissioner Jimmy Neal is charged with receipt and possession of child pornography.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Neal used a Kik account between June and August of 2021 to view the explicit material. Neal was identified as an administrator of a group in the app, in which images of child pornography were viewed and shared by others.
The FBI began the investigation in July 2021. After the arrest of an Oklahoma man on similar charges, other users in the app group were identified, including Neal, who was known there as "tennesseemaster".
According to the complaint, Neal told agents he was viewing the material to take notes and later show to law enforcement.
He had previously worked as a Tennessee Highway Patrolman.
Neal told agents he never reported the activity in the Kik group to law enforcement.
A preliminary and detention hearing is set for May 31 at 2 p.m.
