Weakley County Man Receives Probation for Soliciting Sexual Activity of a Minor, Contributing to Delinquency of a Minor

A Sharon man, 55-year-old Keith R. Bourne was sentenced in Weakley County Circuit Court on August 12 by Judge Jeff Parham for the Solicitation of a Minor for sexual activity on two counts and for Contributing to the delinquency of a minor, both Class A Misdemeanors in the State of Tennessee.  

The charge of solicitation of a minor was amended to child abuse neglect/endangerment during Bourne’s conviction and Bourne only received 11 months 29 days probation for his crime.

On Nov. 6, 2023, Investigator Rodney Wright with the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department received a Department of Children Services (DCS) complaint that a 14-year-old girl, who lives with her maternal grandmother and stepfather, Keith Reginald Bourne, disclosed that Bourne, on at least two separate occasions had asked the girl to come into his bedroom late at night with him and watch pornography on his laptop together, according to an affidavit.

The girl told him no and Bourne allegedly stated, “Come on, it will be fun!” The girl left the room and returned to her room where she locked the door to keep Bourne from coming in at night.

At least once during the same time period, the girl stated that Bourne gave her marijuana to smoke as well as offering her money to not say anything about it.

Bourne was charged with Solicitation of a Minor to Observe Sexual Conduct by asking and pressuring a 14-year-old to intentionally engage in watching pornography. Bourne was also charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a minor for providing marijuana to the child.

Bourne’s case was bound over to the May grand jury on Wednesday, March 6 with Public Defender Martin Dunn representing him. Bourne was out on a bond set at $25,000.

Under the special conditions of Bourne’s conviction, he has to complete a psycho-sexual evaluation with State probation and follow any recommendations as a condition of his probation.