A Fentress County man arrested Nov. 6 on a seven-count sealed indictment charging multiple sex crimes against a child appeared in Cumberland County Criminal Court Tuesday for arraignment.
The case was continued to Dec. 10 and bond remains set at $2 million.
David Michael Murrow, 50, who listed Riverton Rd. and Waymon Beaty Rd., Jamestown, addresses in court documents, was indicted on the following charges not made public until after his arrest:
• Three counts of rape of a child
• Continuous sexual abuse of a child
• Aggravated sexual battery
• Sexual exploitation of a minor
• Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (providing meth, marijuana and alcohol to a minor)
The Tennessee Department of Corrections is listed as Murrow’s place of employment on his booking document when jailed at the Justice Cen- ter.
TDOC spokesman Dorinda Carter said this week, “He is no longer employed with our agency.”
The child — now a teenager — reported to authorities offenses allegedly occurred during unspecified dates. The indictment reads incidents occurred up to Feb. 15, 2023, when authorities became aware of the allegations and launched an investigation.
Witnesses include Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Anthony Loshbough, Deputy Jason Powers, Lake Tansi Police Officer Nicholas Race, Crossville Police Department Lt. Jonathan Tollett, one Internet Crimes Against Children agent, two Crimes against Children investigators, one Department of Children’s Services investigator and two witnesses not identified to protect the identity of the victim.
Murrow stood before Criminal Court Judge Wesley Bray Tuesday and told the judge he had no real or personal assets that could be used to hire an attorney. In addition, he told the judge he did not believe he was employed nor would be able to find employment.
Bray — after reading the indictment to the victim — appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Murrow and continued the case to Dec. 10 for a status review.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty and convicted through due process of the law.