South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced on Mar. 9 the arrest of four Upstate men on a total of 18 charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrests were made by Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigators from several agencies, including the Attorney General’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville Police Department, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.
The issue is significant as it highlights ongoing efforts to protect children and enforce laws against child sexual abuse material. The South Carolina Attorney General supports victims of crime through advocacy and resources, contributing to community safety and protection, according to the official website.
According to investigators, Terry Wayne Harwood of Gray Court was arrested on February 26 and faces three counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation. Carson Elijhah Brooks of Simpsonville was arrested on March 3 and charged with two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation. Timothy John Sams of Greenville was arrested on March 4 for five counts of second-degree sexual exploitation. Dario Alexander Cortes Alonso of Anderson was arrested on March 5 for three counts of second-degree sexual exploitation. Each charge is a felony offense punishable by up to ten years imprisonment per count.
Investigators received CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led them to Harwood, Alonso, and Sams. Investigators state that Harwood possessed and distributed files containing child sexual abuse material; Brooks and Alonso possessed such files; Sams distributed these materials as well. These cases will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Wilson said, “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.” Wilson has served as the head of the South Carolina Attorney General’s office, which operates as the state’s primary legal advocate and enforcer handling prosecutions and regulations across South Carolina according to the official website.
The Attorney General extends its operations statewide, collaborates with law enforcement agencies on criminal prosecutions, and enforces laws related to securities and consumer protection according to information provided by the official website.
Globally, authorities are moving toward using the term ‘child sexual abuse material’ (CSAM) instead of ‘child pornography,’ as CSAM more accurately reflects the abusive nature involved in these crimes.
