A Tennessee National Guard chaplain and youth pastor arrested for soliciting prostitution from a minor has seemingly avoided prosecution after a years-long legal process.
Matthew William Brewer, who was 47 at the time, was among 18 men caught in a 2021 law enforcement sting operation targeting individuals seeking to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
At the time of his arrest, Brewer served as the youth pastor at Fairfield Baptist Church and was also a chaplain in the Tennessee National Guard.
The men allegedly arranged to meet a 16-year-old girl at a local hotel in Tennessee, unaware that they were instead walking into a law enforcement trap. Upon arrival, they were met by an undercover officer recording the encounter.
As a result of the operation, 13 men were charged with patronizing prostitution from a minor, while five, including Brewer, were charged with solicitation.
According to court records, Brewer was charged with soliciting a minor under 15 years old for prostitution and was booked into the Maury County Jail in July 2021.
During a preliminary hearing, prosecutors revealed text messages between Brewer and an undercover officer posing as a 16-year-old girl. In the messages, Brewer allegedly expressed concern about her age but continued the conversation. At one point, he negotiated a lower price for oral sex.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Brewer sent a photo of himself in his military uniform to confirm his identity. However, realizing the situation might be a setup, he reportedly became hesitant and attempted to leave. Before doing so, he slid $20 under the door—allegedly as compensation for “wasting time.”
Authorities arrested him shortly after he left the hotel, ensuring the sting operation remained undisrupted.
A female military police officer, reportedly of equal or higher rank than Brewer, was present at the time of his arrest. Witnesses claim she removed his rank from his uniform and delivered them to his commanding officer.
Following his arrest, a judge found probable cause and referred the case to a Maury County Grand Jury.
Brewer was formally arraigned in December 2021, and over the next three years, his case was postponed ten times.
In December 2023, Brewer appeared before a judge for a “Pre-trial or Judicial Diversion” hearing—a legal proceeding that allows a defendant to avoid traditional prosecution by entering a supervised program.
While the specifics of Brewer’s agreement have not been disclosed, it appears he was granted the opportunity to avoid prosecution through this process.
By August 2024, Brewer’s attorney filed a motion to close the case, likely indicating that Brewer had fulfilled the conditions of his judicial diversion, resulting in the dismissal of charges.
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