Man charged with indecent exposure after filming himself using sex toy in Giles County store

GILES COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man is accused of recording himself doing lewd acts in a store in the middle of the day — and it’s not his first brush with the law for sexual videos taken in public places.

Investigators told News 2 the same man — 42-year-old James Childress — was arrested in 2023 for recording himself doing disturbing things while inside schools and churches.

Childress, who once served time for aggravated assault, allegedly took inappropriate videos using a sex toy in the middle of the store. In a photo obtained from the Pulaski Police Department, he was wearing a mini skirt, crop top, go-go boots and a blonde wig. He was arrested Thursday.

“He was doing some very bizarre things that were very concerning,” former Giles County Sheriff Kyle Helton told News 2.

Investigators said in 2023, videos uploaded to social media sites showed Childress shooting basketballs in the gym at Richland High School. Deputies said he was wearing a mini skirt as he went from room to room inside the school. There was also a video that showed him on top of a long table in the library, strutting back and forth like it was a catwalk. At one point, deputies said he stopped to take a lewd photo.

On another occasion, authorities said he gained access to a Giles County church; one video showed Childress kneeling before an author doing lewd things.After his 2023 arrest, Childress was charged with low-level misdemeanors: vandalism and trespassing. News 2 contacted Brent Cooper, the District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District.

This arrest signals two things:

1. Mr. Childress learned nothing from his last experience with the court system.

2. His behavior is escalating.

Because of this, we intend to seek the maximum punishment under the law for this case.Childress’ bond was set at $4,000. He spent less than two hours in jail on his new charges, which included indecent exposure and resisting arrest. According to the District Attorney, the indecent exposure charge is a Class B misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of six months in jail.

If anyone has witnessed or has knowledge of other locations of this suspect’s behavior, the Pulaski Police has asked citizens to call 931-424-4404.