TBI: Suspect HIV-Positive; More Victims Suspected
By Brandon Puttbrese
Daily News Journal
August 10, 2007
http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070810/NEWS01/708100328/1002
State investigators believe other young victims will be discovered as the case proceeds against an HIV-positive man from Smith County now facing 61 counts of sex-related charges. The charges involve several minors, including at least one in Rutherford County.
Maurice Carter, 44, who lived in a La Vergne apartment from 2005 to 2006, is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with at least one teenage boy from Rutherford County at that time, TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm said.
"We believe there are still victims who are unidentified," said Helm.
Authorities seized a computer, photos, mobile phones and many inappropriate pictures of underage victims from Carter's home and a rented storage unit, Helm said.
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| Maurice Carter |
Carter, currently a resident of Riddleton, in Smith County, is charged with 18 felonies in Rutherford County: 10 counts of especially aggravated exploitation of a minor, three counts of criminal exposure to the HIV virus, two counts of soliciting a minor to observe sexual conduct and three counts of statutory rape, Helm said.
Carter faces 43 similar felony counts for alleged relationships with several boys in Smith County, according to the TBI. Smith County Sheriff's detectives asked TBI to assist them with the investigation after learning there may be multiple victims.
Officials have reason to believe that at least some of those encounters took place in the Lily Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Riddleton, where Carter is a member, TBI said.
"Mr. Carter was very involved in his church," Helm said.
Carter was picked up May 31 on a routine traffic stop in Smith County. Deputies found him with an underage boy, some marijuana and "inappropriate" photographs and videos, TBI said.
During questioning by a Smith County detective and a TBI agent, Carter indicated that he had been having an inappropriate relationship with the boy for several years, Helm said.
TBI agents executed search warrants for Carter's home at 604 Dixon Springs Highway in Riddleton and for a storage unit he rented.
"The Rutherford County charges came from evidence collected at the storage unit and in the search of his home," Helm said.
Carter, who had been out of jail since June 8 on a $35,000 bond, was booked Thursday into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, where his bond was set at $200,000.
Anyone suspecting Carter of inappropriate contact with a minor should contact the TBI at 1-800 TBI-FIND.
Contact: bputtbrese@dnj.com
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