In a recent case of misconduct involving a minor, the Cookeville Police Department has announced the arrest of a man for allegedly soliciting a minor through social media. According to a social media post on the department's official Facebook page, 41-year-old Jeffrey Edward Dawes was arrested following a complaint that he sent inappropriate images and messages to a 15-year-old boy on Snapchat.
The investigation began last Sunday, after the boy's mother reported the alarming communications. During their investigation, authorities from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office were able to locate and subsequently detain Dawes. In an interview that the officials conducted, Dawes admitted to sending the images and solicitations, and acknowledged he was aware that the recipient was a minor. This admission act will significantly ease the judicial process surrounding the charges laid upon him.
Dawes is facing serious charges, including Solicitation of a Minor by Electronic Means, categorized as a Class B Felony, and a separate count of Solicitation of a Minor by Electronic Means interpreted as a Class E Felony. Post-admission, he was booked into the Putnam County Jail with his bond set at $75,000. The Cookeville Police Department, in their release, expressed their gratitude to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for their critical role in locating Dawes and aiding with the investigation.
The Cookeville Police Department urged the community's awareness and proactive vigilance in protecting children from exploitation. They remind the public to report any incidents involving the potential abuse of children to the Cookeville Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 931-520-5384 or to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
