CHATTANOOGA — Jeffrey Adair Young pleaded guilty to solicitation of a minor in Hamilton County Criminal Court. The former director of the Bradley County Emergency Management Agency received a two-year suspended sentence after appearing before Judge Barry Steelman.

The charge was classified as an E felony. Young, a resident of Cleveland, attempted to arrange a sexual encounter with a person he believed was a 15-year-old boy. He initiated contact with the individual on the Scruff dating app.

The person Young communicated with was an undercover FBI agent. Communications between Young and the agent included texts and phone calls. During these exchanges, Young inquired about the minor’s parents’ work schedule and school activities.

A planned meeting was set to take place on Lookout Mountain. The FBI notified Lookout Mountain Police about the arrangement. Young was arrested after authorities observed him circling the meeting site.

Young stated that handcuffs and a hood would be involved in the encounter. He also stated he would pretend rape the boy. Items described in messages by Young were found in his car following his arrest.

Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis addressed the situation following the court proceedings. There will be a complete reorganization of the Bradley County Emergency Management Agency, Davis said. Young was 65 years old at the time of his arrest.

The conviction results in a leadership change at the Bradley County Emergency Management Agency, prompting a stated reorganization by county leadership. The case involved federal law enforcement intervention after an attempt to meet a minor, leading to an arrest and subsequent guilty plea in state court. Young admitted to traveling from Bradley County to Hamilton County with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity. Investigators confirmed that digital evidence, including chat logs and location data, supported the charges. No prior criminal record related to sexual offenses was found for Young. The court determined that the suspended sentence was appropriate due to Young’s cooperation and lack of prior convictions. The reorganization plan includes new oversight protocols and mandatory training for emergency management personnel.