Special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force have arrested Joel Merriel, 59, of Jamestown, for violating the Sex Offender Registry.

The arrest follows a July tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child sexual abuse material being shared on the app Kik. Investigators linked the account to Merriel, a registered sex offender in Fentress County.

Merriel was arrested Wednesday with assistance from the Fentress County Sheriff’s Department and charged with one count of registry violation. He was booked on a $100,000 bond and has since bonded out. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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