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Tennessee Deputy Charged With Sex Crime Involving Minor, Boone PD Assisted Operation

patty-james-eugeneThis morning, the Asheville Police Department (APD) participated in an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force operation that resulted in the arrest of James Eugene Patty Jr., 48, of Maryville, Tennessee for Solicit Child by Computer.

Patty is currently being held at the Buncombe County Detention Center under a $50,000.00 bond. At the time of his arrest, Patty was serving as a Sheriff’s Deputy for the Blount County, TN Sheriff’s Office.

Patty traveled from his home in Maryville, TN to Asheville with the intent of having a sexual encounter with a minor female. Patty was taken into custody by the SBI and APD shortly after arriving in Asheville, prior to making any physical contact with a minor.

North Carolina agencies participating in the operation were the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Boone Police Department and Asheville Police Department. APD has been an active member of the ICAC Task Force since 2007.

Additional assistance was provided by the Tennessee ICAC Task Force and the Blount County, TN Sheriff’s Office. Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong has been very cooperative and is working with the SBI to resolve this matter.

For any additional information please contact Alan K. Flora, Special Agent in Charge of the NCSBI Computer Crimes Unit/Commander NCICAC Task Force at aflora@ncsbi.gov.