A man from Cassatt, South Carolina, has been arrested on nine charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest was announced by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Hunter Blake West, 26, was taken into custody by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Attorney General’s Office. The investigation also involved the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, Camden Police Department, and S.C. Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon.
The investigation began after a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led authorities to West. According to investigators, West distributed and possessed files containing child sexual abuse material.
West faces four counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Each count is classified as a felony offense that carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Authorities noted that West had previously been convicted on similar charges in 2024.
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 clarified that “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM) is now used instead of “child pornography,” as it more accurately describes these crimes and avoids implying consent by minors.
