MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – An 18-year-old Murfreesboro woman charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor is scheduled to appear in court this coming Friday. If the hearing for Sophia K. Carrier is not rescheduled, as it was in August, she will appear before Judge Ben Hall McFarlin III at 8:30 a.m.
A criminal case against Carrier was opened on July 11, 2025. Formal charges followed shortly thereafter, on July 14, when she was arrested. The case centers on allegations that she uploaded and possibly distributed videos or images depicting minors engaged in sexual activity.
Carrier was charged under Tennessee Code Annotated §39-17-1004, which defines aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor as knowingly promoting, selling, distributing, purchasing, exchanging, or possessing material that depicts a minor engaged in sexual activity—or material considered “patently offensive” simulated sexual activity.
The investigation was launched after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received a tip in March 2025. That report was believed to be linked to a Snapchat account reportedly belonging to Carrier. On March 16, 2025, child pornography material—possibly including infants—was allegedly viewed, shared, or received through the account.
Following the investigation, criminal warrants were issued, and Carrier was arrested on Monday, July 14. Murfreesboro Police Detective Samuel Day led the case and also executed the arrest. Bond was set at $120,000. Ten days later, Carrier was released from the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center after posting bond through Grumpy’s Bail Bonds.
The hearing is currently scheduled for Friday, September 12, in Rutherford County General Sessions Court. From there, the case may be presented to a Grand Jury. Prosecutors would present evidence, and jurors would decide whether probable cause exists to proceed with formal charges. If a Grand Jury returns a “true bill” indictment, Carrier would be formally arraigned in Criminal Court.
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.
