safety
Nashville church employee charged with aggravated child sexual exploitation, police ask for more info
By Chasity Maynard at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 10, 2026
· 3 min read
Editor’s note: This story contains descriptions of child sexual abuse. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - An employee of a Nashville church is one of two men arrested Tuesday by Metro Nashville Police after investigators allegedly found they shared videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. In the fir...
Key takeaway In the first case, 34-year-old Jason Douglas Ford is charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor after detectives conducted a seven-month investigation, per a police press release.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The arrest of a Nashville church employee on charges of aggravated child sexual exploitation raises concerns about the safety and well-being of children in local faith communities. As the investigation into Jason Douglas Ford continues, Metro Nashville Police are seeking information from the public about his interactions with children, which suggests that detectives may be looking into potential local victims or witnesses. The fact that Ford was a facilities coordinator at Midtown Fellowship, a position that may have involved working with or around children, adds to the urgency of the police's request for information. The church's decision to indefinitely suspend Ford and cooperate with law enforcement is a necessary step, but it also underscores the need for local churches and organizations to review their own policies and procedures for protecting children and reporting suspicious activity. As the community waits for more information to come to light, it is crucial that anyone with concerns or information comes forward to help ensure that children in Nashville are safe and protected.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 10, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Editor’s note: This story contains descriptions of child sexual abuse. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - An employee of a Nashville church is one of two men arrested Tuesday by Metro Nashville Police after investigators allegedly found they shared videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. In the fir...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 10, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Chasity Maynard at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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