Williamson County ICAC Task Force Charges Nine in Child Sexual Exploitation Crackdown

Williamson County has seen a notable increase in the protection of children against sexual exploitation this year, with multiple arrests made by the diligent efforts of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Between February and June of 2024, nine individuals, including eight men and one minor, have been charged in relation to child sexual exploitation crimes within Williamson County, as reported by WKRN.

Leading these operations, Detective Paul Lusk's work with the ICAC Task Force has been critical in tracking and apprehending offenders. "The work Detective Lusk is doing with the ICAC Task Force is commendable. Sexual exploitation of children is sickening to me. The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office will relentlessly pursue all who seek to commit this crime and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law - period," Sheriff Jeff Hughes stated, according to FOX 17. The determination to protect children, using advanced methods to locate the perpetrators has led to several arrests, such as Atticus Spurlock of Franklin, charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and multiple other counts, as well as Trace Duncan of College Grove, accused of solicitation of a minor and related crimes.

The operations, however, were not limited to local grounds. Two arrests beyond Tennessee's borders underscore the task force's reach, with Tyler Clark from Medicine Hat, Canada, involved in luring a child under the age of 16 and Derek Olsen from Riverside, California, charged with exploitation and solicitation related to interactions with a 16-year-old girl from Williamson County. These international and out-of-state arrests, serve as milestones in the WCSO's larger mission to curb the reach of online predators, as indicated by a statement released by the authorities and captured in the official announcement by the Williamson County Sheriff's Office.

The community's role in these investigations proves significant, as Sheriff Hughes' statement encourages ongoing vigilance, "The WCSO-ICAC Task Force works proactively within the community to ensure that violent sex offenders preying on our youth are stopped and ultimately brought to justice," he said. Residents with information relevant to cases of online child sexual exploitation are urged to come forward, as their tips can be submitted via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline.