Sentencing date set for former Knoxville police officer convicted of child pornography

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A sentencing date has been set for a former Knoxville police officer after he pleaded guilty last month to federal child pornography charges.

Dan Roark has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child and one count of receipt of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 2025.

In October 2023, the Scott County Virginia Sheriff’s Department received an anonymous tip about a minor sending sexually abusive material on a cell phone. While examining the phone, investigators found text messages between the minor’s phone and Roark’s phone dating back to 2019.

Roark was arrested in November 2023, and Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel said the allegations against Roark were “deeply disturbing and horrific.” Roark had been with the department since 2007, but was fired a week after his arrest following an internal investigation.

Under the plea agreement, the prosecution agreed to limit its request for Roark’s sentence to a maximum of 25 years. The plea agreement stipulates that Roark’s charges carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, and that he will also face parole after his sentence, tens of thousands of dollars in assessments, restitution, and mandatory restitution. Each charge also carries the possibility of fines of up to $250,000.

Roark remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.