Man accused of sending explicit photos to 12-year-old girl

HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A West Tennessee man is charged with solicitation of a minor after investigators say he sent a 12-year-old girl sexually explicit photos.

James Michael Arnold

Henderson County deputies say James Michael Arnold, who goes by Michael, used his phone to send photos of his private parts to a 12-year-old girl over the weekend.

“Right now, he’s charged with two counts of solicitation of a minor,” said Capt. Tracey Grisham with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators say Arnold, 35, of Yuma, met the victim when she was staying at a relative’s home in Carroll County.

According to the arrest warrants, Arnold and the girl had been chatting on Facebook messenger for nearly a year, when he would send her messages investigators referred to as “stalker-like.”

“Things like ‘I can see you, turn right, turn to the left.’ They were enough that it did appear he was watching her at the time,” Grisham said.

Deputies say the 12-year-old’s mother reported the conversations because she thought they were inappropriate.

“She was upset, but not to the point she did things that would get her in trouble. She stayed as level-headed as any mother or father I’ve ever seen,” Grisham said.

The arrest warrant says at one point Arnold instructed the girl on how to send explicit photos to him.

“He has no criminal history whatsoever. His history is clean — nothing, spotless,” Capt. Grisham said.

Investigators say this is still an open case and that Arnold may face additional charges.

At this point they don’t believe there are more victims.

Arnold’s bond has been set at $250,000. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison and have to register as a sex offender.