South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that Julian Samuel Turner, 31, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, was arrested on three charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Investigators from the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Moncks Corner Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations also assisted in the case.
The investigation began after a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led authorities to Turner. According to investigators, Turner possessed files containing artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material.
Turner was taken into custody on February 9, 2026. He faces three counts of possession of a visual depiction or representation of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, activity, or nudity (§16-15-390(C)), which is a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment for each count.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute this case.
Attorney General Wilson stated: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is now used as a more accurate term than “child pornography” because it better reflects the nature of these crimes. The term “pornography” may suggest consent from minors, so CSAM is being adopted globally to describe such offenses.
The South Carolina Attorney General serves as the state’s primary legal advocate and enforcer and works with state law enforcement agencies on criminal prosecutions according to its official website. The office provides support for crime victims through advocacy and resources while enforcing laws related to securities and consumer protection across South Carolina. Alan Wilson leads these efforts as head of the office statewide.
