August 12, 2025, – A Hendersonville man convicted of possessing hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.
On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Nichols ordered 60-year-old Dennis C. Gilliam to serve 64 years behind bars without the possibility of parole. Gilliam was found guilty by a jury in June following a 2024 investigation by Sumner County Sheriff’s Office Detective Eric Poulin. A search of Gilliam’s home uncovered hundreds of child sexual abuse materials, including depictions of victims as young as five years old.
Assistant District Attorneys Nathan Nichols and Tara Wyllie argued for the lengthy sentence, citing Gilliam’s prior felony conviction in Kentucky for abusing a child and the ongoing risk he posed to the community. The judge agreed, imposing what amounts to a life sentence.
Authorities emphasized that child sexual exploitation is not a victimless crime and vowed to continue prosecuting such cases aggressively in Sumner County.
Source: Ray Whitley, District Attorney General, Sumner County
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