Sheriff Austin Garrett has placed Johnathan Allen on Administrative Leave after a HCSO Investigation has resulted in charges related to Child Pornography.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office received information from South Carolina law enforcement on December 4  and began assisting with a criminal investigation. A search warrant was executed early this morning by our detectives and Allen was arrested and booked into the Hamilton County Jail in relation to warrants out of South Carolina pending extradition. 

Allen is being charged with the following in South Carolina: three counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and one count of Criminal Solicitation of a Minor.

“I am furious over the alleged actions of Allen and the disgusting nature of these charges,” said Sheriff Austin Garrett. “I have immediately placed him on Administrative Leave pending a pre-disciplinary hearing that will be held in the immediate future per Civil Service rules. In addition to the ongoing criminal investigation, an HCSO Internal Affairs investigation has also been initiated. The HCSO holds our personnel to the highest of standards and this type of alleged behavior will not be tolerated.” 

Allen began service at the HCSO as a Corrections Deputy in September 2021. He graduated from a basic law enforcement academy on November 1, 2024, and at the time of his arrest, he was in our formalized Field Training Program. As per Civil Service rules, he has been placed on leave with pay for 14 days, after which he will be immediately placed on leave without pay and a disciplinary hearing will be held.