A 43-year-old Cookeville man is behind bars on a $625,000 bond following a months-long investigation into the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Justin Whitaker was arrested on June 15, 2026, and faces multiple felony charges, according to the Cookeville Police Department.

The case began in March 2026 when local detectives received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip was generated after Google flagged and reported a user who had uploaded a file containing suspected child sexual abuse material.

Through the course of their investigation, Cookeville detectives traced the digital activity back to a specific residence on Sullivan Street.

On June 15, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Sullivan Street home. During the operation, investigators seized a cellphone belonging to Whitaker. A forensic examination of the device uncovered CSAM alongside additional evidence aligning with the initial investigation.

Whitaker was taken into custody without incident and has been charged with:

• One count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

• One count of Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

• One count of Manufacturing, Sale, or Delivery of a Controlled Substance

“The Cookeville Police Department remains committed to protecting children and investigating crimes that exploit the most vulnerable members of our community,” the department said in a statement following the arrest.

Whitaker is currently being held at the Putnam County Jail.