A Knoxville man will be back in Knox County Circuit Court next month on a charge of Indecent Solicitation of a Child.
According to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, 38-year-old Nicholas D. Bailey was arrested Sunday after members of a self-described “nonprofit organization taking action against online child predators,” known as Bikers Against Predators, met with sheriff’s deputies to share information about Bailey communicating with a member of the organization who was posing as a 13-year-old female.
Deputies made contact with Bailey, who cooperated with the investigation and it resulted in his arrest on the Class 4 felony charge. He was lodged in the Knox County Jail.
On Monday, the Knox County State’s Attorney filed formal charges against Bailey, including a petition to detain — which was later withdrawn when Bailey was placed on supervised release and let out of jail.
The Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent Bailey in the case and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for November 6, 2023.
The Sheriff’s office says in a news release that they appreciate “the support of organizations such as Bikers Against Predators, it is the stance of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office not to encourage vigilante activities and to contact law enforcement to conduct thorough investigations into any criminal activity.”