A Sparta man has been arrested and is facing charges of violating the sex offender registry.
Investigators determined that 59-year-old Joel Merriel allegedly distributed child sexual abuse material on the mobile app called Kik. Merriel is a registered sex offender in Fentress County.
Merriel was booked into the Fentress County Jail and had a bond set for $100,000. Merriel has been subsequently released on bond.
Authorities are still conducting an ongoing investigation.
