Police in Nashville say a 40-year-old man has been arrested on rape and child exploitation charges after a months-long sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy that allegedly began on a dating app.
Investigators report that Shaun Medley was taken into custody Thursday and is accused of having a sexual relationship with the teen for roughly six months before the investigation got underway. Police say the two met on a dating platform and continued seeing each other while the boy was still underage.
According to NewsChannel 5, officers arrested Medley at his apartment on Brick Church Pike after another man reported that inappropriate photos of the teen had been shared through a Google account. The outlet reports the boy was at the apartment when officers arrived. Medley is being held on a $60,000 bond on counts of aggravated statutory rape and aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.
Charges and legal definitions
Under Tennessee law, aggravated statutory rape and aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor are felony offenses that carry heightened penalties when a child is involved. The elements of statutory rape and aggravated statutory rape are detailed in state law, as outlined on Justia, which summarizes Tennessee Code § 39-13-506. Provisions addressing aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor are set out in Tennessee Code § 39-17-1004 and can also be reviewed via Justia.
Police action and digital tips
Metro detectives say the case is another example of how digital trails and online tips are increasingly driving child exploitation investigations. Recent updates from the Metro Nashville Police Department describe investigators developing leads from cyber tips filed by tech providers and reports from the public.
Medley remains in jail on the $60,000 bond and faces state felony counts. The case is active and still under investigation, and the charges remain allegations at this stage. As reported by NewsChannel 5, additional court filings or a formal charging instrument had not yet appeared in public records at the time of reporting.
