Nearly 100 people were indicted last week during the July 2020 term of the Tipton County Grand Jury. On Monday, those indicted were arraigned in court. Following are summaries of some of the cases of sex crimes with child victims.
Timothy Spencer Landry, 30, was indicted on charges of sexually exploiting a minor, 15 total counts of indecent exposure and two counts each of aggravated sexual battery and criminal responsibility for the rape of a child.
According to court documents, over an eight month period of time he showed minors photos of other minors engaged in sexual activities, exposed his buttocks to an elementary-age child, engaged in sexual acts in front of and with two different middle-school age children, molested one of those children, and assisted someone else in raping both of them.
He was arrested on Monday, July 19 and is currently in custody. Bond has been set at $100,000. He is expected to face trial later this year.
In addition to Landry, several others were indicted on similar charges and appeared in court for arraignment Monday morning.
Update: In November 2022, Landry was convicted of three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. He is currently serving a 12-year sentence at Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville and is considered a violent sexual offender.
Brandon Dowell was charged with seven counts of aggravated statutory rape. He is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old whom he told he was 17. The affidavit shows Dowell told police he thought she was 20, because she listed her age as such on social media, though text messages seem to indicate he knew her age. Dowell is 38.
Update: Dowell pleaded guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to four years in prison and is currently incarcerated at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center. He was denied parole at a June 2022 hearing and is set to be released on May 24, 2024.
Brandon Michael Jurica was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after showing a minor material in which someone under the age of 18 was engaged in sexual activity.
Update: Jurica was granted judicial diversion.
Richard Aubrey Miller allegedly had more than 100 pieces of material involving minors engaged in sexual activity on a phone. He was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and tampering with evidence after he and Karen M. Torske, who was charged with facilitation of tampering with evidence, reportedly destroyed a Samsung phone to impede the investigation.
Update: Court records show Miller pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of sexually exploitation of a minor with fewer than 50 images and tampering with evidence. He was sentenced to six years for each count and is currently incarcerated at Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville. He is first eligible for release in August 2028. He is listed on the sex offender registry.
Court records show Torske pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of being an accessory after the fact. Her case was disposed on Oct. 4, 2022.
Timothy Edgar Roman was charged with solicitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means. The state alleges he attempted to solicit sexual activity from a 13-year-old and showed the teen sexual material. He is set to report to court with an attorney on Aug. 13 and is expected to go to trial later this year.
Update: Roman pleaded guilty as charged and is currently on probation until Dec. 22, 2024. He is living in Bolivar and is a registered sex offender.
The Leader maintains those indicted are innocent unless proven guilty in Tipton County Circuit Court.
Author: Echo Day
Echo Day is an award-winning journalist, photographer and designer. She is currently The Leader's managing editor.
