SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A former custodian at an elementary school in Sumner County faces more than 100 years in prison after he was convicted of attempting to sexually exploit a student.

Tracy Lee Crews was arrested by a school resource officer on Dec. 18, 2024, after he allegedly gave a 10-year-old J.W. Wiseman Elementary School student a package that contained a cellphone. Officials said when the student arrived home, they showed the phone to a parent, who immediately alerted school personnel.

During a three-day trial, Assistant District Attorneys General Nathan Nichols and Tara Wyllie presented evidence to the jury, which revealed that the phone Crews provided the student contained "dozens of pornographic images and videos."

Initially, the 56-year-old allegedly denied that he had any knowledge of what was on the phone. However, Crews later admitted that not only did he intend for the 10-year-old to view the content, but he also wanted the student to produce child sexual abuse material, according to Sumner County District Attorney General Thomas Dean.

Dean added that the phone was locked when Crews gave it to the student, and the 10-year-old was unable to access its contents.

On Dec. 18, after Crews was arrested, a search of his vehicle reportedly led authorities to a greeting card that had a handwritten note, which was intended for the victim along with a $20 bill and the passcode to the phone.

On Thursday, Sept. 18, a jury convicted Crews of one count of attempted especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of solicitation of a minor to commit especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, and 36 counts of attempted exploitation of a minor under 13 years of age by electronic means.

When announcing Crews' conviction, Dean made the following statement:

This prosecution would not have been possible without the bravery of the victim, excellent investigative work of the Sumner County Sheriff's Office, and assistance of Ashley's Place, Sumner County's Child Advocacy Center and K-9 Grady.  We also recognize Sumner County Schools for providing valuable help with the investigation and prosecution of Crews.  Special thanks to Victim Witness Coordinator Sally Ann Pirtle and legal secretaries Brittany Nale and Maggie Robbins.

Crews is scheduled to be sentenced in November and faces up to 156 years in prison. Dean added that under Tennessee law, Crews' sentence would be served without the possibility of parole or early release, and he would have to register as a sex offender.

No additional information was immediately released.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/former-sumner-county-custodian-faces-156-years-in-prison-for-attempting-to-sexually-exploit-student/