A 39-year-old Army Reservist from Mt. Juliet is jailed in lieu of $400,000 bond following his arrest Thursday evening on charges of statutory rape by an authority figure and unlawful solicitation of a minor. The victim in this case is age 15.
Kenneth Wasson is alleged to have met the victim on a dating app in July. She said his post made it appear as if he was in the Army, and that she expressed an interest in the military while advising him she was 15. Wasson is alleged to have told her that he would be better able to explain the Junior ROTC program in person, and drove to her North Nashville home dressed in fatigues while she was there alone. The teen reported that Wasson engaged in sex with her while at the home.
During the investigation, led by Youth Services Detectives Rachael Robinson and Chris Beery, Wasson made admissions in regard to having sex with the victim. Subsequent to the in-person meeting, Wasson is also alleged to have sent lewd photos to the victim through the dating app with the message that they needed to get together again.
Mt. Juliet Police on Thursday evening arrested Wasson on the outstanding warrants that were issued against him earlier in the day and transferred custody of him to the Metro Nashville Police Department.
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.