Child Porn Charges For Tennessee Human Rights Commission Official

NASHVILLE, TN — A Tennessee Human Rights Commission executive surrendered to Metro Police Tuesday, accused of possessing more than 200 images of child pornography.

Matthew Stephenson, 42, turned himself in midday Tuesday and is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. Investigators say they found 226 images of minors engaged in sexual activity or simulated activity on Stephenson's personal electronic devices.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

Police say Stephenson was accessing the material via Tumblr and linked an IP address used to download the material to Stephenson's Antioch home. While police emphasized that he did not produce any of the material himself, he is charged with distributing it.

Stephenson is the Title VI compliance director for the HRC, the organization charged with ensuring the state's compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI deals with race- or ethnic-based discrimination.

Stephenson's bond was set at $500,000.

Image via MNPD