Austin Brez Jones, a 31-year-old resident of Greenville, South Carolina, has been arrested on four 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, with assistance from the Attorney General’s Office, which is also part of the state’s ICAC Task Force.
The investigation began after a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) identified Jones as a suspect. Authorities allege that Jones distributed files containing child sexual abuse material.
Jones was taken into custody on February 18, 2026. He faces four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree (§16-15-405), each classified as a felony and carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison per count. The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case.
Attorney General Alan 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 term instead of “child pornography” because it more accurately describes these crimes and avoids implying consent by minors.
The South Carolina Attorney General serves as the state’s main legal advocate and enforcer, handling prosecutions and regulatory matters such as securities and consumer protection across the state (official website). The office also supports victims through advocacy and resources, collaborates with law enforcement agencies on criminal cases, and is led by Alan Wilson (official website).
