A 43-year-old Hixson man was arrested Monday after Hamilton County investigators say a year-and-a-half-long probe uncovered thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material on devices tied to him. Anthony Villasana now faces charges connected to cases in both Hamilton and Catoosa counties, according to an affidavit tied to the investigation.
The case traces back to February 2025, when deputies arrested Villasana on outstanding Catoosa County warrants for grooming of a minor and child molestation, according to the affidavit obtained by Local 3 News. That arrest set off a Hamilton County investigation that would stretch on for more than a year and a half before culminating in this week's charges.
Phones Seized During Arrest Led to Forensic Review
During that February 2025 arrest, investigators seized two of Villasana's cellphones, and Catoosa County investigators later executed a search warrant on the devices. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation then conducted a forensic examination of the phones, and the review identified multiple images and videos containing child sexual abuse material, the affidavit states.
That discovery pushed the investigation further. Hamilton County deputies obtained a search warrant for Villasana's home in July 2025, and the affidavit says that search turned up additional electronic devices, including digital storage devices found stored together in a plastic bag. Other residents at the home told investigators the devices belonged to Villasana, who was in the process of being evicted at the time, per the same account.
Several Thousand Files Found on Storage Devices
A forensic examination by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office of those storage devices revealed several thousand images and video files containing child sexual abuse material, the affidavit says. Deputies described the images as “patently offensive,” according to the same document.
Based on those findings, Hamilton County deputies issued an arrest warrant for Villasana. He was taken into custody on Monday, November 2, and the report notes he is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, November 9.
What the Charges Mean
Tennessee law generally makes it unlawful to knowingly possess material depicting a minor, according to a document from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
No additional court records, case numbers, or hearing outcomes have been made available confirming what happens next in the proceedings. The scheduled November 9 court appearance has not yet been independently verified as having taken place.
