A soldier stationed at Fort Campbell has been charged with possessing child pornography according to a criminal complaint filed in the Nashville division of U.S. District Court.
Cole Reed Hester is charged with receipt and distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
According to court records, a joint investigation by the Kentucky State Police and the Fort Campbell Army CID determined Hester received and sent suspected child abuse material through social media accounts in February and June of 2020.
Hester is accused of trading, selling, or purchasing sexually explicit content from other people in group chats where people discussed child exploitation.
Investigators said Hester was in possession of over 5,000 images that appeared to depict child pornography.
Hester was indicted by a federal grand jury last week and could face up to 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Hester’s arraignment is set for Thursday in Nashville.
