Dennis Gilliam

A man charged last year with first-degree sexual abuse of a 6-year-old girl is now accused of possessing 60 images that depict preteen and teen girls engaged in sexual activity.

Dennis Carroll Gilliam, 49, is wanted on a Simpson County grand jury indictment warrant on one count of first-degree sex abuse and 60 counts of possess/view matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, according to a release from the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office.

Gilliam may be in the Adairville/Russellville area. He is white, 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 265 pounds.

Detective Eddie Lawson opened an investigation Oct. 14 involving Gilliam after a witness told Lawson that during a sleepover at Gilliam’s home Oct. 13, the witness saw Gilliam grab the girl’s genital area while she was sitting in Gilliam’s lap fully clothed and playing on the computer. Lawson arrested Gilliam on Oct. 14.

Gilliam was detained last year in the Simpson County Detention Center for two days before posting a $25,000 surety bond Oct. 16.

“The witness … was suspicious of his activities on the computer,” Lawson said. “I obtained a search warrant for that computer.”

The computer was sent to the U.S. Secret Service office in Louisville, where officials found 60 nude videos or pictures that are believed to be preteen and teen girls engaged in sexual activity, he said.

“From what I understand and what I was told, he obtained them off of the Internet at various websites,” Lawson said about the images.  

After receiving information from the computer forensic analysis, Lawson presented the case against Gilliam to a Simpson County grand jury Monday.

Prior to Gilliam’s arrest last year, he worked at a factory in Adairville.

Lawson is unaware of Gilliam’s current employment status or whereabouts.

Gilliam’s Logan County attorney Stewart Wheeler did not return a phone call seeking comment.

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