South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Thomas Parr Flood, a 34-year-old resident of Charleston, South Carolina. Flood faces four charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrest was carried out by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Attorney General’s Office.
The investigation began following a CyberTipline report received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). According to investigators, Flood is accused of distributing files containing child sexual abuse material.
Flood was taken into custody on May 29, 2025. He has been charged with four counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor under statute §16-15-405. Each count carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The Attorney General’s Office will handle the prosecution of this case. Attorney General Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is considered a more accurate term for these crimes compared to “child pornography,” as it avoids implying consent by the minor involved. The term CSAM is increasingly being adopted worldwide for clarity and accuracy in such cases.
