Covington Predator: Lineback Gets 10 Years for Child Porn

MEMPHIS, TN – Austin Lineback, 59, of Covington, Tennessee, will spend the next decade behind bars after being sentenced for a vile crime. Lineback received a 10-year federal prison sentence for possession of child pornography, Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee announced today. The sentence isn’t just about punishment; it’s a desperate attempt to shield vulnerable children from predators like Lineback.

The case unfolded when detectives with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Lineback’s residence on January 30, 2023. Living alone, Lineback thought he could hide his depravity. He was wrong. The search yielded multiple electronic storage devices, each a digital vault of horror. A meticulous forensic examination quickly confirmed the worst: the devices contained images of child sexual abuse material. This wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgment; it was a deliberate collection of exploitation.

Lineback didn’t plead guilty. He forced the government to prove its case. In January 2025, after a grueling two-day trial, a federal jury found Lineback guilty on the single-count indictment. The evidence was damning, the images irrefutable. The jury delivered a swift and just verdict, sending a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated. He attempted to deny his actions, but the digital fingerprints of his abuse spoke for themselves.

On July 18, 2025, Judge [Judge’s name not provided in source] handed down the 10-year sentence, coupled with a lifetime of supervised release. Let’s be clear: there is no parole in the federal system. Lineback will serve every day of that decade, and even after release, he will be monitored for the rest of his life. It’s a small comfort, but a necessary one for the victims whose lives he shattered.

This case is a stark example of the work being done under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative dedicated to combating the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project isn’t just about arrests and convictions; it’s a collaborative effort, marshaling resources from federal, state, and local agencies to locate predators, rescue victims, and bring justice to those who have been harmed. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.

The investigation was a joint effort between the dedicated detectives of the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office and the agents of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum, Eileen Kuo, and Lauren Delery skillfully prosecuted the case, ensuring that Lineback faced the full weight of the law. For media inquiries, contact USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Stay updated on the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or X at @WDTNNews.

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