(Memphis) Controversial Memphis talk show host Thaddeus Matthews is free on bond due to sexual exploitation of a minor charges.
Memphis Police say he posted the picture on his Facebook page of a child and an adult engaged in a sex act on his Facebook page.
It’s a picture we warned you about on News Channel 3, and told you not to share.
The photo has been circulating through email.
Matthews defended himself on Facebook saying he posted it trying to help police identify who took it.
Before his arrest, Matthews posted on Facebook again, “I hope you understand the reason for the post if you don’t, you probably never need to come to this page. It was and still is my goal to find out who some have told me is a man from Memphis that is doing the most disgusting thing i have ever seen.”
Police Director Toney Armstrong said that’s the wrong thing to do.
Armstrong said if you receive this email, report it to police and then delete it.
Do not share it in any form or for any reason.
Here’s the official police release on Matthews’ arrest.
On Friday, November 9, 2012, at approximately 6:00 p.m., officers at Old Allen Station received a walk-in complaint from a concerned citizen who advised that she discovered a disturbing image on Facebook of a child performing a sexual act.
Although it was not determined that the actual posting was generated by a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, investigators with MPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) began to follow all possible leads.
On Tuesday, November 13, 2012, the Memphis Police Department found that this same image was also posted on a Facebook page created by 55-year-old Thaddeus Matthews.
Investigators contacted Mr. Matthews and advised that he needed to report to ICAC for a follow-up investigation into the allegations of this posting.
Mr. Matthews reported to ICAC at which time it was found that he had posted an image depicting a child under the age of 5-years of age performing oral sex on an adult male.
Thaddeus Matthews was arrested and charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
ICAC is currently investigating further into this incident and is also attempting to discover the orientation of the original photo. At this time, investigators believe that through other investigative leads, more charges are to follow.
This is an ongoing investigation.
