Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey recently detailed findings from an investigation surrounding a sheriff's office employee.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) arrested Christopher Thomason, who has been a corrections officer since August 2024.
ALEA received tips from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) in July regarding Thomason. He was accused of sharing five videos and two images. Images depicted minors engaged in sexual activity, and one was of Thomason in his sheriff's deputy uniform, Casey said.
Upon reviewing his Snapchat activity, investigators found 162 photographs. Of those, 113 depicted Thomason in his uniform, Casey added. Investigators believe he was communicating with a 12-year-old from Alabama and two other minors. They believe he was also requesting images from minors.
Casey said Thomason attempted to meet up with a child at least once at a high school football game in Walker County, but the meeting was canceled due to rain.
Thomason was in training at the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) location in Jefferson County when he was arrested. Casey said there will be an additional investigation into Thomason's employment with the sheriff's office and whether he was qualified to serve in certain positions.
Casey is asking anyone who has communicated with Thomason to contact her office. She encouraged parents to be aware of their children's activity on Snapchat and other platforms.
Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon stated that after learning of the arrest, he immediately initiated the process of terminating Thomason's employment.
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