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The City of Franklin Police Department took a Franklin man into custody Thursday, Nov. 7, and charged him with two counts of possession of child pornography.

A Nov. 7 FPD news release stated that in September, the department received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding apparent child pornography that had been uploaded to an instant messaging platform. A subsequent investigation led detectives to identify a suspect in the case.

On Nov. 7, acting upon that information, detectives applied for and obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 100 block of Pocahontas Street in Franklin, the release noted.

“As a result of that search, multiple items were taken to include images of child pornography,” FPD officials stated.

The release noted that the arrestee, Brandon Wayne Lockhart, 46, of Franklin, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. 

Lockhart was transported to Western Tidewater Regional Jail, where he is held without bond, officials stated in the release.

This investigation is ongoing. 

If anyone has information about this incident or other criminal activity within the city of Franklin, they are asked to call Franklin Police at 757-562-8575, Franklin Crime Solvers at 757-516-7100, or contact the FPD online at p3tips.com. Information that leads to an arrest can earn the caller a cash reward while remaining anonymous.