safety
Tennessee man arrested after grandmother finds sexual videos, photos on child’s phone, prosecutor says
Summary by The Nashville Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Chasity Maynard , WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 20, 2026
· 2 min read
What This Story Is AboutMathew S. Hooper, 46, is accused of using Snapchat to send and receive sexually exploitative materials from a child. Why It MattersThe Algood Police Department arrested Hooper Thursday, and he is now charged with two counts of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor by e...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Nashville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Chasity Maynard, WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log
Key takeaway Hooper, 46, is accused of using Snapchat to send and receive sexually exploitative materials from a child.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The arrest of Mathew S. Hooper in Putnam County raises concerns about the safety of children in the Nashville area, particularly in the context of online exploitation. As local and state investigators continue to investigate this case, it is crucial to recognize the role that grandparents and other family members can play in monitoring children's online activities and reporting suspicious behavior. The fact that the grandmother in this case discovered the explicit content on the child's phone highlights the importance of vigilant supervision in preventing such crimes. Furthermore, the collaboration between the Algood Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the 13th Judicial District Attorney General's office demonstrates the need for a coordinated approach to addressing online child exploitation in the region. As the investigation unfolds, it will be important to watch for any potential connections to other cases, such as the recent allegations of a Tennessee man paying minors for sexual exploitation videos via social media.
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 20, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 2 min
Get more The Nashville stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering safety and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? What This Story Is AboutMathew S. Hooper, 46, is accused of using Snapchat to send and receive sexually exploitative materials from a child. Why It MattersThe Algood Police Department arrested Hooper Thursday, and he is now charged with two counts of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor by e...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 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 .
← Back to all news
More safety →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter