Duke Droese indicted on attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor

Duke ‘The Dumpster’ Droese has been indicted.

In a press release sent out on Monday, District Attorney General Chris Stanford of the 31st Judicial District of Tennessee announced that Droese (real name Mike Droese) has been indicted on one count of attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. 

It was alleged that back on April 21 Droese used a Coinbase account to purchase child pornography off the dark web. The transaction was flagged and terminated before the purchase was complete. The FBI was then tipped off regarding the attempted purchase, and the district attorney requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – Crimes Against Children Task Force to investiagte the matter.

Droese eventually turned himself in to the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and was released after making the $10,000 bond. His arraignment is set for May 28.

It was noted in the press release that Droese was employed as a DUI Coordinator for the district’s Adult Recovery Court Program (ARC), where he had served with the program for several years. Droese was immediately terminated from that position after his indictment. 

Droese is best known for his short run in the WWE from 1994-96, feuding with Jerry Lawler and later Triple H. He appeared as a surprise entrant in MLW’s Battle Riot match back in 2023.