HCSO Deputy Indicted on Charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) investigation led to the indictment of a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to the TBI, TBI special agents received a tip on June 22 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an individual in possession of suspected child pornography on a cell phone on May 2nd.

The TBI investigated that tip and says their agents determined that Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy John Bruce Spaulding, 49, was the individual with those images on his phone.

According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy John Spaulding was placed on administrative leave with pay on July 29 when the Sheriff’s Office was made aware of the TBI investigation.

On Wednesday, August 31, a Hamilton County Grand Jury indicted Spaulding on 6 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. The TBI says that Spaulding was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office says that Spaulding has now been suspended without pay, and there is now an internal affairs investigation underway into his conduct.

Previously, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office suspended Spaulding with pay on December 26, 2009 pending an investigation into improper contact with two juveniles in White County.

At that time, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said they had been notified of an investigation by the White County Sheriff’s Department.

On January 6, 2010, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said they were notified a White County Grand Jury returned two indictments against Spaulding for Aggravated Sexual Battery.

Eventually those White County charges were dropped.