Former WWF wrestler Mike Duke The Dumpster Droese is officially heading toward a critical moment in his legal battle.
A new court hearing has been scheduled for August 27 at 9:30 AM in Warren County, Tennessee, where Droese will either enter a plea or proceed to trial on one count of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
Droese was initially set for arraignment back in May, but that hearing was delayed. According to a statement from District Attorney General Chris Stanford, this update means a resolutionor a court dateis coming soon.
Authorities allege that Droese attempted to purchase child sexual assault material from the dark web using his Coinbase account in April 2024. Although the transaction was flagged and terminated before completion, the intent behind the action was deemed criminal.
The FBI first received the tip from Coinbase, which was later passed to the Warren County Sheriffs Department on March 19, 2025. A TBI special agent quickly launched a follow-up investigation, culminating in the grand jury indictment.
Stanford added that Droese, who was working as a DUI coordinator for the 31st Judicial District Adult Recovery Court at the time, was fired immediately upon arrest. Officials confirmed he never worked with minors in that position.
If convicted, Droese faces 2 to 4 years in prison for the Class D felony. The August 27 hearing will determine whether a plea deal is made or if the case proceeds to trial.
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