A Greenville man has been arrested on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, as announced by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Shannon Odell Smith, aged 50, was apprehended by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office, a member of the state’s ICAC Task Force, provided assistance in the investigation.
The investigation began after a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led authorities to Smith. Investigators allege that Smith possessed files containing child sexual abuse material.
Smith was taken into custody on May 27, 2025. He faces three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree (§16-15-410). Each charge is classified as a felony and carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment per count.
The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is considered a more accurate term than “child pornography,” which can imply consent from victims who cannot legally give it. The global shift towards using CSAM reflects this understanding.
