A Warren County man has pleaded guilty to possessing hundreds of images of child pornography more than two years after authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

On February 27, 2024, the NCMEC alerted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation about someone in Warren County in possession of child sexual abuse material. Following an investigation, Clifton Johnston was charged with possessing more than 300 such images on his phone between September 27, 2023, and February 27, 2024—a Class B felony punishable by eight to 12 years in prison.

On April 22, Johnston entered a guilty plea to possessing 303 images and was sentenced to 10 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction, to be served in full. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. No further details about the investigation were released.

The 31st Judicial District Attorney General Matt Colvard emphasized that his office takes crimes against children very seriously and encouraged victims or witnesses to contact local law enforcement or his office.