Jason Evan Kennedy is the former children's Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Kennedy had worked at the church for about 2 and a half years.

He is a father of three, and is also married.

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In May 2016, Kennedy was charged with human trafficking and patronizing prostitution.

Kennedy was arrested after responding to a Backpage ad via text message.

The church that Jason worked for affirmed his background check conducted two years ago during their hiring process indicated no suspicious criminal past.

^[-1] The church has released a statement of the following: "The actions of the children’s pastor for which he has been arrested were part of his life outside the church, and we have received no questions or concerns related to his conduct within the church or its ministries."

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Sting Operation

With the assistance of nonprofit agencies Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking, End Slavery Tennessee, and Second Life Chattanooga, the undercover operation conducted this week also identified potential victims of trafficking.

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Governor Bill Haslam signed legislation into law giving TBI original jurisdiction over investigations of human trafficking.

Additionally, the state legislature approved funding for four Special Agents, who work exclusively to investigate human trafficking cases and train law enforcement statewide on recognizing and combating this type of crime.

These four Special Agents, who have now completed their fifth operation across the state, have arrested or cited just under 100 individuals during that time.

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