Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained multiple convictions against a school janitor who solicited explicit photographs of underage girls over Facebook messenger.  Dustin L. Dotson, 37, was convicted of three counts of Solicitation of a Minor.  As part of the agreement, Dotson pled guilty-as-charged and received the maximum sentence.  Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on December 15 where he will determine the manner in which the sentence will be served.

In the plea hearing, Assistant District Attorney Ashley McDermott explained to the Court that on June 13, 2016, Knoxville Police Department Investigator Chris Jones with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was contacted by woman who was concerned that her thirteen-year-old daughter was receiving inappropriate messages from Dotson over Facebook messenger.  Dotson’s father is the pastor of a church where the victim had dance team practice, and Dotson had been present during many of those practices.  Inv. Jones received consent to assume the thirteen-year-old girl’s Facebook account to conduct an undercover investigation into Dotson.  During the course of the investigation, Dotson requested that the child send him nude photographs of herself.  Dotson was arrested and admitted requesting explicit photos from this victim and other underage girls.  After initial media reports of Dotson’s arrest, two additional victims, one eleven and one twelve, reported that Dotson had solicited explicit photos from them over the internet.

“I urge parents to talk to their children about the dangers of social media so they feel comfortable coming forward like these brave victims did,” said DA Charme Allen.  “If you see behavior like this, report it to law enforcement so predators can be stopped before more harm comes to a child.”

At sentencing, prosecutors will ask that Dotson serve the entirety of his sentence in prison based on the nature of the offense.