The Cookeville Police Department reported the arrest of two men on charges connected to Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC). In a social media post, authorities detailed the separate investigations that led to the indictments of Matthew T. Whitehead, 29, and Jake Tyler Osorio, 27. Both men face felony charges for offenses related to the possession and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
In the case of Whitehead, the police began a proactive peer-to-peer investigation earlier in February that linked downloads of CSAM to a Baxter, TN residence. Later, during an executed search warrant by Cookeville Police ICAC Detectives, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, multiple electronic devices were seized. Forensic analysis of these devices confirmed the presence of CSAM, after Whitehead had admitted to its download. According to the Cookeville Police Department, Whitehead's actions have resulted in a Class D felony charge for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, with a bond set at $25,000.
Similarly, Jake Tyler Osorio's arrest came after Cookeville Police followed up on a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which indicated suspected uploads of CSAM to a Kik account. Osorio, upon a search of his residence and subsequent seizure of electronic devices, confessed to downloading, possessing, and distributing CSAM. This led to charges of Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Class C felony) and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Class D felony), with his bond set at $65,000.
Both arrests highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of illicit materials involving minors. These cases demonstrate coordination between local police, the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and national agencies aimed at protecting children from exploitation. The Cookeville Police Department has not provided further details on the investigation, nor has a statement been released by the representatives of Whitehead or Osorio regarding the charges.
