MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former Christian school administrator is facing multiple charges, including sexual exploitation of a minor.
John “Jay” Brownlow, 32, faces eight charges including especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, aggravated stalking, and aggravated unlawful photographing of a minor.
Court documents say it happened between June 2020 and July 2022. Brownlow was a school administrator at Westminster Academy on Ridgeway Road in Southeast Memphis at the time.
According to a nine-page indictment, Brownlow stalked, photographed, and engaged in sexual acts with at least two boys under the age of 18.
We went through the indictment page by page. On one page, it is alleged Brownlow directly induced the minor to engage in sexual activity. On another page, it says he unlawfully and knowingly entered the home of a minor without effective consent.
A third page, among the most disturbing, says Brownlow photographed the minor in a state of nudity for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification. The documents also state the children did not know about the stalking or the cameras.
It doesn’t specify whether those victims were students at the Westminster Academy, where Brownlow worked as a school administrator when the crimes allegedly occurred. However, the school released a statement, saying in part, “He has not been an employee or allowed on campus since that time.”
Virginia Stallworth, executive director of the Memphis Child Advocacy Center, told WREG in a statement, “Research indicates two out of ten Shelby County children are sexually abused by age eighteen. While 90% are abused by someone they know, kids can also be at risk for assault by strangers.”
She also urges parents of victims to get evidence-based, trauma-focused therapy for their children.
We spoke on the phone with Leslie Ballin, Brownlow’s attorney, and he says while these allegations are disturbing, the case is still pending and Brownlow maintains his innocence.
Brownlow is out on a $200,000 bond and has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He is due back in court on June 7.