HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRC) – A woman could face life behind bars after she allegedly used a child to create pornography with her husband.
According to WTVC, Tina Marie Keen was found guilty Friday after she allegedly worked alongside her husband, Tommy James Keen, to exploit a child and create child pornography.
A report from WDEF states that Tina Marie Keen and her husband were taken into custody in April of 2023 after authorities in Hamilton County, Tennessee received a tip from a Missouri-based Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which led to the discovery of an abused child.
“During the course of the investigation, the HSI Office in Kansas City, Missouri referred information to the HSI Chattanooga Office regarding a possible victim of child exploitation who was believed to reside in the Chattanooga metropolitan area. The child was identified and located,” the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (Tennessee) wrote in a statement obtained by WTVC.
Authorities said in a release at the time that the couple “both participated in the continuous exploitation” of the child, per WTVC. According to WRCB, investigators said Tina Marie Keen “assisted in and permitted” Tommy Keen’s rape and sexual abuse of the child for more than five years.
“Tina Keen’s crimes are particularly disturbing given her relationship with the victim,” Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud said in regard to the situation, per WDEF. “This investigation demonstrates to the residents of Hamilton County that our Homeland Security Investigations Chattanooga and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office place the safety and welfare of our children as one our top priorities. Together, we will pursue those who seek to exploit and harm our nation’s most vulnerable population and bring them to justice.”
Tina Marie Keen’s arrest came after a near three-year-long investigation, The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. Tommy James Keen previously pleaded guilty, and is currently serving 25 years in prison, per WDEF.
“There are criminals, and then there are people like this woman. The worst of the worst. Our intention is that she spends the rest of her life in prison,” Hamilton County District Attorney (Tennessee) Coty Wamp said in a post to social media.
Tina Marie Keen was found guilty on the following charges on Friday, per WTVC:
- Four counts of child rape
- Four counts of aggravated sexual battery
- Ten counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor
- Sexual exploitation of a minor
“This evil woman is facing 25-40 years on each count of rape of a child and dozens of years on the other 15 counts. Our intention is that she spends the rest of her life in prison,” Wamp said in a statement obtained by WTVC.
“The message should be clear: stay the hell away from our children or go to prison,” Wamp concluded, per WRCB.
