A Nashville church employee is facing child pornography charges after a seven-month investigation led Metro PD detectives to his Donelson home early Wednesday morning.
Jason Ford, 34, was arrested by Metro PD’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit following a tip that led investigators to a video shared on the messaging app Kik. According to police, the video showed a nude female child performing a lewd dance, and detectives traced it back to Ford’s account and home address. Ford works as the facilities coordinator at Midtown Fellowship Church, where he’s listed on the church’s website as “Jay Ford.” He’s being held on a $75,000 bond.
Neighbors described Ford and the woman he lives with as quiet and mostly private. One neighbor, Annalise Lawing, said she’d occasionally see the couple outside gardening but didn’t know much else about them. Others said they noticed police activity at the home Wednesday morning and were shaken by the news. One neighbor said her young child regularly plays in the front yard nearby, calling the situation “shocking” and “concerning.”
A second man, Lawrence Nelson, 46, was also arrested as part of the case. Police say Nelson shared a video on Instagram showing a minor engaging in an act with an adult. He’s being held on a $10,000 bond.
Midtown Fellowship Church held internal meetings Wednesday morning to address Ford’s arrest and his employment status with the church. As of this report, the church has not issued a public response.
Metro PD says they believe there may be additional victims connected to the case and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
This is an ongoing investigation, and 615Nav will update this story as more information becomes available.