South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced on Mar. 13 the arrest of Steven Nelson Sherman, a 52-year-old resident of Myrtle Beach, on ten charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The Horry County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, made the arrest with assistance from the Attorney General’s Office, North Myrtle Beach Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case began after investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led them to Sherman. Authorities say Sherman possessed files containing child sexual abuse material. He was taken into custody on March 11 and faces ten counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, each count carrying a potential penalty of up to ten years in prison.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute this case. Wilson said, “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
The South Carolina Attorney General supports victims through advocacy and resources to help ensure community safety and protection, according to the official website. The office also serves as the state’s primary legal advocate and enforcer by handling prosecutions and regulatory matters according to its official website.
Wilson has served as head of the South Carolina Attorney General’s office according to its official website. The office operates statewide and collaborates with law enforcement agencies and solicitors on criminal prosecutions according to its official website. It also enforces laws related to securities and consumer protection according to its official website.
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is now used as a more accurate term for these crimes because “pornography” can imply consent by minors. Globally, CSAM is replacing older terminology for clarity.
