On May 23, 2017, investigators with the Knoxville Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) received information that Anthony Alan Boruff was in possession of child pornography /child erotica and that it was located on his cellular telephone. After receiving a search warrant for the phone, ICAC investigators seized the phone from the suspect on May 24, 2017.
A forensic examination of Boruff’s cell phone revealed over 622 file images containing child pornography / child erotica. Some of the file images showed infants involved in sexual acts, children involved in bondage acts, as well as children involved in sadomasochistic acts.
On June 16, 2017, ICAC investigators obtained arrest warrants for Boruff on six (6) counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Class B felonies). Investigators along with west district patrol officers responded to an address in Knoxville where they discovered Boruff sitting on the floor of the living room. Investigators spoke with Boruff, but he refused to come to the door and appeared very lethargic. The Knoxville Fire Department was summoned to the scene to force entry for a welfare check, but Boruff eventually opened the door to the residence. Boruff was found to be extremely intoxicated and had several self-inflicted cut wounds to both arms. Boruff stated he was suicidal. Boruff was transported to UT Medical Center for evaluation. After receiving treatment Boruff was transported to the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility and held on a $300,000 bond with a bond condition of no contact with minors.
On August 4, 2017, the Knox County District Attorney General’s Child Abuse Unit successfully obtained a guilty plea from Boruff in Knox County Division I Court. Boruff pleaded guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Class B Felony). The Honorable Judge Steven Sword sentenced Boruff to ten (10) years in prison, of which Boruff must serve 100% of that time. Upon release Boruff will be required to register as a sex offender and will be placed on community supervision for life. Boruff has remained in custody at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility since his arrest.