South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced on Apr. 27 the arrest of Wesley Blake Coffee, 19, of Lugoff, and Hayden Riley Clemency, 21, of Lexington, on a total of 11 charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrests were made by Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigators from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department in unrelated cases.
The announcement highlights ongoing efforts to address crimes against children in South Carolina. According to the official website, the South Carolina Attorney General supports victims through advocacy and resources and works to protect community safety according to the official website.
Investigators received CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led them to Coffee and Clemency. Authorities say Coffee possessed files containing child sexual abuse material while Clemency distributed such files. Clemency was arrested on April 22 and charged with six counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, each punishable by up to ten years in prison. Coffee was arrested on April 24 and charged with one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, also punishable by up to ten years imprisonment.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will prosecute both cases. The office operates as the state’s primary legal advocate and enforcer handling prosecutions and regulations according to its official website. Wilson has served as head of this office according to its official website, which extends operations statewide according to its official website. The office also enforces laws related to securities and consumer protection according to its official website.
Collaboration with state law enforcement agencies is part of how these criminal prosecutions are managed according to its official website. In his statement regarding these arrests, Wilson said all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The press release notes that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is now used instead of “child pornography” because it more accurately reflects the abusive nature involved; globally CSAM is replacing older terminology for this reason.
