Lawrence County deputies pose as teen to arrest man wanted for child sex crimes

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – Lawrence County deputies, posing as a juvenile during a sting operation, arrested a man wanted for child sex crimes.

Investigators said the suspect, 45-year-old Levi D. Freeman, was recently indicted by a Lawrence County Grand Jury on multiple serious felonies that include solicitation of a minor and attempted aggravated statutory rape.

“This guy thought he was meeting a 17-year-old boy to commit a sexual act. He gets to the meet and greet and he meets two of my deputies,” Lawrence County Sheriff John Myers said.

News 2 has obtained body camera footage of that meet and greet.

Video shows deputies pulling behind Freeman who was parked at a convenience store.

After being read his rights, Freeman refused to talk about the sexual allegations. They are allegations that the sheriff said began on Facebook and then grew more intense, with graphic pictures allegedly sent to the teen on Snapchat.

Myers said the 17-year-old called the sheriff’s department to complain about the activity and the sheriff’s department went to the teen’s home, checked his social media account, and then continued talking to Freeman as if investigators were the 17-year-old boy.

Freeman also failed a field sobriety test that evening and will charged with DUI, according to authorities.

His case will also be presented to the Grand Jury.

“He decides it is in his best interest not to talk about the text messages,” Myers said.

On the morning of Tuesday, July 2, deputies with warrants in hand went to pick up the alleged sex offender.

Deputies went to Freeman’s residence, which investigators said was allegedly a room he was renting in the basement of another home.

After a brief search of the home, Freeman taken into custody without incident.

“There’s predators like this everywhere. This guy, he slipped up, and it is a good thing because like I said, he thought he was meeting with a 17-year-old boy and instead he met two of my sheriff’s deputies. I couldn’t be more proud of my deputies; they did a great job. I can’t say enough good things, so my hat’s off for my guys and gals,” Myers said.

Myers told News 2 that Freeman, who is from Florida, didn’t have any comment after his arrest and he is currently in jail on a $25,000 bond.

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