HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A former Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy has been indicted on federal charges in South Carolina.
Johnathan Allen was originally arrested in December of 2024, and charged with three counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and one count of Criminal Solicitation of a Minor.
The HCSO fired Allen a few weeks after his arrest.
On the morning of August 22, 2025, a federal grand jury in Columbia, South Carolina returned a three-count indictment against Allen.
He’s now being charged with Enticement of a Minor, Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material, and Obstruction of Justice.
The indictment alleges that in September of 2024, Allen used accounts on both Reddit and TextMe to contact a 13-year-old female in South Carolina.
The HCSO says at the time, Allen was residing in Hamilton County.
On December 5, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Allen’s residence.
Allen was arrested and taken to the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center.
He was later extradited to South Carolina.
Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett spoke on the recent indictment, stating:
“As your Sheriff, I am committed to operating this agency with transparency. Given today’s announcement of Allen’s indictment, it is important for the public we serve to know that justice is being pursued. Let this serve as a clear warning—you will not victimize or prey upon our county’s children. This is especially true for those placed in positions of trust who choose to violate that trust. As Allen has now learned, justice will find you. He faces both state and federal charges, and accountability will be sought to the fullest extent of the law.”
Allen was hired at the HCSO as a corrections deputy in September of 2021.
He graduated from basic law enforcement training in November 1, 2024.
The HCSO says he was enrolled in the Field Training Program at the time of his arrest.
