Palmer, Tenn., man pleads guilty to producing child porn

Palmer, Tenn., man pleads guilty to producing child porn

A Palmer, Tenn., man pleaded guilty this week to producing child pornography, according to a news release. 

The Winchester Police Department conducted an undercover investigation in February 2012 in which it identified Jimmy Rollins, 44, as an Internet trafficker of pornographic images of children. 

Officers searched Rollins' home in May 2012 and discovered equipment used in the production of child pornography, multiple pornographic images and videos of Rollins engaged in sexual activity with a minor. 

Rollins was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 27, 2012.  He pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single count of producing child pornography. 

The case was investigated by the Winchester Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative to combat child abuse. 

"We will aggressively prosecute those who are using interstate commerce to victimize children for profit and sexual gratification," U.S. Attorney William C. Killian said in a statement. " Let the message be clear: If you engage in production of child pornography in the Eastern District of Tennessee, you will be caught and you will serve significant time in prison." 

Rollins is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6, and he faces 25 to 50 years in prison. 

He was convicted in Grundy County Criminal Circuit Court in 1994 on two counts of statutory rape, records show.