A former East Tennessee law enforcement officer has officially begun serving a federal prison sentence following an online child exploitation sting.

Charles Crothers, a former detective with the Rockwood Police Department, is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, serving a 12½-year (150-month) federal sentence, according to local reports.

Investigation and Arrest

The charges stem from a June 2024 operation conducted by an undercover Alabama law enforcement officer targeting online child exploitation.

According to authorities:

• On-Duty Conduct: Crothers transmitted a sexually explicit photograph while on duty as a police officer.

• Target: He believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old girl, who was actually the undercover officer.

Court Proceedings and Release Terms

Crothers ultimately entered a guilty plea in federal court to one count of attempted enticement of a minor as part of a plea agreement.

In addition to his 12-year and six-month prison term, federal sentencing mandates that Crothers must register as a sex offender upon completion of his sentence.