Four suspects were charged with raping girls 5 to 12 years of age after lengthy investigations by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Family Crimes Unit and detectives, investigators said.

John Olivieri

Suspect John Olivieri, 44, of Polk Avenue near Murfreesboro was indicted for two counts of child rape and aggravated sexual battery of a 7-year-old girl and two counts of aggravated sexual battery of another 7-year-old girl, said Detective Phil Brooks.

Olivieri listed his employment as a correctional officer with the Tennessee Department of Correction’s Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. 

Brooks launched the investigation in January 2011 after the now 13-year-old girl disclosed to a friend Olivieri allegedly had sexual contact with her in 2003-2004 at his home, the detective said. During the investigation, another girl, who is now 15, reported Olivieri allegedly fondled her when she was 7 years old at his home.

The two girls do not know each other. They described Olivieri as a friend of their families.

Olivieri was charged May 17 and booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center and released on $150,000 bond. His case is pending in Circuit Court. 

Alan Deaton

Grand jurors also indicted Alan Deaton, 45, of Meadow Drive in Christiana on one count of rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery of a girl under six years old, Brooks said.

When the mother learned of the allegations in March, she immediately notified the sheriff’s office and Brooks investigated.

Deaton is being held on $550,000 bond. A hearing is set June 1 in Circuit Court. 

Thomas “T.J.” Ingle

In an unrelated case, Detective Steve Craig said suspect Thomas “T.J.” Ingle, 23, of Greenland Drive, was charged in February with two counts of rape of a 12-year-old girl. 

Craig began the investigation after the girl’s guardian discovered interaction between the girl and Ingle from the girl’s Facebook pages and contacted the sheriff’s office.

“The messages were sexually explicit in the content,” Craig said.

After his investigation, Craig charged Ingle who bound his case to the grand jury. He is free on $150,000 bond while awaiting action by the grand jury.

Nicholas Keith Phillips

In a fourth case, Detective Scott Tillman reported suspect Nicholas Keith Phillips, 25, of Leanna Road was indicted on two counts of child rape, four counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of unlawful photography this month by the grand jury.

Tillman responded to a call Jan. 20 where a 12-year-old girl reported Phillips had sexual contact with her at his home. She fled from him by running outside into a field.

“He caught her and convinced her to come back,” Tillman said. “She got in the house and called 911.”

Phillips fled before deputies arrived but Cpl. Ryan Huggins located the suspect on a violation of probation warrant Feb. 2. Phillips is being held on $200,000 bond at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center.

Tillman presented the results of his investigation to the grand jury, who returned the indictments.

During the investigation, Tillman conducted a search warrant at Phillips’ home where he lived with his parents. The detective located one ounce of marijuana.

Tillman charged Phillips’ mother and stepfather Deborah and Richard Churchill with felony possession of marijuana, possession of Schedule 4 drugs, possession of a legend drug without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Phillips was accused of setting up a live web camera in the girl’s room that showed her undressing. Tillman charged him with unlawful photography.

Computers, lap tops and hard drives from the computers seized during the search warrant were given to the U.S. Secret Service for analysis. 

Phillips’ next hearing is set June 1 in Circuit Court.