May 19, 2013
LAFOLLETTE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Wednesday, the Campbell County Grand Jury handed down an indictment on a LaFollette man for charges of child pornography.
Detectives with the LaFollette Police Department say the investigation started last November into Lonnie Ellison, 52, and they recovered a "large quantity" of child pornography at a local storage unit.
Ellison was indicted on 82 counts, including rape of a five year-old child, aggravated sexual battery, especially aggravated sexual exploitation and sexual exploitation of a minor.
When Lonnie Ellison stopped paying the bill on his storage space at LaFollette Storage, it was auctioned off in November. City Police Chief Jim Jeffries says the new owner found child pornography inside.
"Which led to a search warrant in April of Ellison's house on 309 N. Cumberland Avenue in LaFollette," said Chief Jeffries.
Inside the house, police uncovered thousands of pictures and videos of exploited children.
"Through the evidence found at his house, pictures of a five year-old victim," said Jeffries.
Since the raid, Ellison moved in with his mother on N. Massachusetts Avenue, and that's where police arrested him Friday morning.
"It's terrible. It's something we don't experience that often. It's as bad as it gets," said Jeffries.
"I'm shocked, I can't believe this. I really can't. I'm really shocked about this i don't know what to say," said Johnny Letner, a friend of Ellison.
Letner says he's known Ellison and his family for years, and stared in disbelief at what his friend is accused of doing.
"Something must've happened, because I really don't believe he would get involved in stuff like this," said Letner.
Ellison is being held at the Campbell County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
He's scheduled to be in court on July 30.
When we tried to talk to Ellison's family this afternoon, they declined to comment.
This is not the first time Ellison has been in trouble with the law.
Last year, he was charged with forgery and theft of property under $500.
