A day at the water in Loudon County took a frightening turn Wednesday when a swimmer reported that a man exposed himself and chased her through nearby woods, according to deputies. Authorities identified the suspect as Jordan Eplett, who has been booked on six counts of indecent exposure. The Loudon County Sheriff's Office is now asking anyone who believes they may have had a similar encounter to contact law enforcement.
What deputies say
Deputies responded after the woman told investigators a man approached her while she was swimming, struck up a conversation about her job, and repeatedly called her "beautiful" before exposing himself, masturbating, and then chasing her into the woods, according to WATE. Officials said deputies later found a red Pontiac registered to Eplett parked off the road and located him near the water smoking marijuana. According to the agency, he admitted exposing himself and masturbating in front of multiple victims and said he had been drinking and using marijuana.
How to report tips
The sheriff's office is urging anyone with information, or anyone who thinks they may have been targeted, to call the county non-emergency dispatch line at 865-458-9081 and ask to speak with a deputy. That number is listed on the Loudon County E-911 website.
Charges and legal context
Eplett faces six counts of indecent exposure and remains in custody as the case moves through the local court system, according to local reporting. Under Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 39-13-511), public indecency and indecent exposure are criminal offenses that can carry fines or jail time, and repeated convictions or offenses involving minors can, in some circumstances, trigger sex-offender registration, according to the Tennessee Code.
