ROCKWOOD, Tenn. — A former Rockwood police detective has been sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison following an undercover child exploitation investigation.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 39-year-old Charles Andrew Crothers, of Oliver Springs, was sentenced Tuesday to 151 months behind bars after pleading guilty to attempted enticement of a child.
The case began in June 2024, when investigators with the Blount County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover operation targeting online chat platforms known for illicit activity. During that operation, Crothers made contact with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old girl.
Authorities say Crothers requested explicit images and engaged in inappropriate conversations over text messages. Investigators report he ultimately sent an explicit photo during the exchange.
At the time, Crothers was serving as a detective with the Rockwood Police Department.
Following the investigation, Crothers was identified and taken into custody in Laurel County, Kentucky in September 2024.
He later entered a guilty plea to one count of attempted enticement of a minor. In addition to his prison sentence, Crothers will face lifetime supervised release upon completion of his sentence.
Federal officials say he will also be required to register as a sex offender and comply with strict monitoring conditions.
The case is part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute individuals who attempt to exploit children online.
