South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of Timothy James Achey, 62, of Conway, South Carolina. Achey faces one charge related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The Horry County Sheriff’s Office, part of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, carried out the arrest. Additional support in the investigation came from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and North Myrtle Beach Police Department—all members of South Carolina’s ICAC Task Force.
The investigation began after a CyberTipline report was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Authorities allege that Achey distributed files containing child sexual abuse material.
Achey was taken into custody on September 3, 2025. He is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree (§16-15-405), which is classified as a felony and carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute this case.
Attorney General Wilson stated: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
The term “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM) is used to describe content involving minors in abusive situations. This terminology is considered more accurate than “child pornography,” which can imply consent by minors; internationally, CSAM is replacing older terms for clarity about the nature of these crimes.
