Joey Foster indicted on 19 counts of attempted possession of child porn charges

Last updated: October 20, 2026

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) —

Joey Foster has been indicted on 20 charges, including 19 counts of attempted possession of child pornography and one count of enticement of a child to meet for sexual purposes.

Foster appeared in court Tuesday afternoon for a bond hearing, where Judge James Chaney denied his request for bond.

Foster was represented by attorney Merrida Coxwell, who argued that his client was not a flight risk and should be granted a reasonable bond.

Coxwell spoke about Foster’s employment history, explaining that he had worked since the age of 15 and operated a successful business. He also pointed to Foster’s family ties and property ownership in Warren County as reasons he should be released on bond.

During the hearing, Coxwell called Pastor Truly to the witness stand. Truly expressed his willingness to help ensure Foster received weekly evaluations from a psychiatrist or psychologist if he were released.

Prosecutors objected to granting Foster bond, and Chaney ultimately denied the defense’s request.

During Tuesday’s hearing, it was stated that Foster could face more than 700 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

The investigation began after a Facebook post surfaced showing messages between Foster and someone he allegedly believed was a 16-year-old girl. Investigators later examined Foster’s cellphone and discovered images.

The defense also raised claims that the case began with someone attempting to extort Foster.

Foster was initially arrested in August and charged with enticement of a child to meet for sexual purposes and possession of child pornography. At his initial court appearance, Judge Marcie Southerland denied him bond.

The original charges stemmed from an incident in which Foster allegedly received an image from a female whom he believed was 16 years old.

During the previous hearing, investigator Keyes testified that a forensic download of Foster’s cellphone revealed an image investigators identified as child pornography, along with deleted messages.

Keyes also testified that Foster allegedly attempted to persuade the person he believed was a teenager to travel by bus from Florida to Jackson, Mississippi. Foster allegedly offered to provide a hotel room for her.

At the time of Foster’s arrest, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office had not made contact with an alleged victim.

Keyes previously explained that under Mississippi law, investigators did not have to verify the person’s actual age to pursue the enticement charge. Instead, the statute requires that the accused believed the person was younger than 18.

With the latest indictment bringing the total number of charges to 20, Foster remains in custody without bond as the case moves forward through the court system.