A Greenwood man has been arrested on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to an announcement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Bishop Ryan Weatherhead, 30, was taken into custody by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest took place on November 26, 2025.
The investigation began after authorities received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). According to investigators, Weatherhead is accused of distributing and possessing files containing child sexual abuse material.
Weatherhead faces one count of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree and one count in the third degree. Both are felony offenses that each carry a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case. Other agencies assisting in the investigation include Homeland Security Investigations and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, both members of South Carolina’s ICAC Task Force.
Attorney General Wilson emphasized: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
The press release also notes that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is now used as a more accurate term for these crimes instead of “child pornography,” as it avoids implying consent by victims.
