South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Christopher Michael Gugel, 47, from Travelers Rest, South Carolina. He faces three charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office, also part of the state’s ICAC Task Force, assisted in the investigation.
The investigation began after a CyberTipline report was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), leading investigators to Gugel. According to investigators, Gugel distributed files containing child sexual abuse material.
Gugel was arrested on May 30, 2025. He is charged with three counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-405), a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment for each count.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute this case. Attorney General Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The term “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM) is used as it more accurately describes the nature of these crimes. The term “pornography” may incorrectly suggest consent by the child involved. Globally, CSAM is replacing “child pornography” for this reason.
