HCSO deputy arrested and placed on leave after receiving child pornography charges

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has been placed on administrative leave

after an investigation resulted in charges related to child pornography.

Johnathan Allen

A law enforcement agency out of South Carolina relayed information to HCSO on December 4, 2024 in relation to the deputy.

HCSO immediately began assisting in this criminal investigation.

According to HCSO, a search warrant was executed early this morning, and Johnathan Allen was arrested.

He was taken to the Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center in relations to warrants out of South Carolina.

Allen is currently awaiting extradition.

He’s being charged with three counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and one count of Criminal Solicitation of a Minor.

“I am furious over the alleged actions of Allen and the disgusting nature of these charges. I have immediately placed him on Administrative Leave pending a pre-disciplinary hearing that will be held in the immediate future per Civil Service rules. In addition to the ongoing criminal investigation, an HCSO Internal Affairs investigation has also been initiated. The HCSO holds our personnel to the highest of standards and this type of alleged behavior will not be tolerated.”

-Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett

Allen began his service with HCSO as a corrections deputy in September of 2021.

He graduated November 1, 2024 from a basic law enforcement academy.

At the time of his arrest, HCSO stated he was in their formalized Field Training Program.