A Greenville man has been arrested on five charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to an announcement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Alexander William Vermeesch, 21, was taken into custody 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 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led authorities to Vermeesch. Investigators allege that Vermeesch distributed and possessed files containing child sexual abuse material.
Vermeesch was arrested on October 22, 2025. He faces two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree and three counts in the third degree. Each charge is a felony, with each count carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case.
Attorney General Wilson stated, “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
The press release also noted that the term “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM) is used to more accurately describe the nature of the material involved, as the word “pornography” may suggest the child was a consenting participant. The term CSAM is increasingly being adopted globally for this reason.
