Knoxville police arrested 64-year-old Thad Milam on Tuesday, January 27, after a woman told officers she received a video that appeared to show a man having sex with an underage girl. Investigators say Milam admitted to sending the clip and acknowledged possessing “hundreds” of child sexual abuse images and videos. He was booked on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and an evidence-tampering charge, and police said additional charges could follow.
According to the Knoxville Police Department, Special Crimes Unit detectives launched the investigation after the woman reported that she met Milam on an online dating app and later received the disturbing video. Detectives conducted a knock-and-talk at Milam’s home on N. Forest Road, where officers say he tried to delete text messages while they were on scene. His phone was seized, and the department says Milam admitted both to sending the video and to possessing the material.
How Police Say The Arrest Unfolded
WVLT reports the woman met Milam on the dating app Hily, and that the two exchanged phone numbers before he sent her the clip. According to the station, Milam also reportedly told officers he was in sexual relationships with underage girls. WVLT reports that Milam’s arrest warrant said the material investigators recovered ranged from teenagers to toddlers.
What The Charges Mean
Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1003, as published on Justia, knowingly possessing material that depicts a minor engaged in sexual activity is a felony, with penalties that can increase if investigators find more than 50 or more than 100 items. The statute allows prosecutors to aggregate images to enhance the class of the offense and does not require proof of the victim’s identity or exact age in order to pursue charges.
Prosecution And Next Steps
Milam was initially charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and tampering with evidence, and police said more counts are expected as detectives continue to analyze seized devices. In cases involving large collections of material or suspected interstate distribution, local agencies sometimes coordinate with federal prosecutors through initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood, which the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Tennessee has used in similar prosecutions, according to a Department of Justice press release.
Per the Knoxville Police Department, anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the department’s Special Crimes Unit or call the non-emergency line at (865) 215-7000. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
