Hamilton County, TN – Sheriff Austin Garrett has placed Johnathan Allen on Administrative Leave after an HCSO Investigation has resulted in charges related to Child Pornography.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office received information from South Carolina law enforcement on December 4th and began assisting with a criminal investigation. A search warrant was executed early this morning by our detectives and Allen was arrested and booked into the Hamilton County Jail in relation to warrants out of South Carolina pending extradition.

Allen is being charged with the following in South Carolina:

• (3) Counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

• (1) Count of Criminal Solicitation of a Minor

“I am furious over the alleged actions of Allen and the disgusting nature of these charges. I have immediately placed him on Administrative Leave pending a pre-disciplinary hearing that will be held in the immediate future per Civil Service rules. In addition to the ongoing criminal investigation, an HCSO Internal Affairs investigation has also been initiated. The HCSO holds our personnel to the highest of standards and this type of alleged behavior will not be tolerated,” stated Sheriff Austin Garrett.

Allen began service at the HCSO as a Corrections Deputy in September 2021. He graduated from a basic law enforcement academy on November 1, 2024, and at the time of his arrest, he was in our formalized Field Training Program. As per Civil Service rules, he has been placed on leave with pay for (14) days, after which he will be immediately placed on leave without pay and a disciplinary hearing will be held.

Any inquiries into the initial investigation by South Carolina law enforcement authorities should be directed to the York County Sheriff’s Office.

Due to this being an ongoing investigation, no further details are available at this time.