South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Adam Michael Wheeler, a 46-year-old resident of Spartanburg, on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest was executed by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Attorney General’s Office. Additional support in the investigation was provided by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Secret Service, all of which are members of the state’s ICAC Task Force.
The investigation was initiated following a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that pointed to Wheeler’s involvement. Authorities allege Wheeler distributed files depicting child sexual abuse material.
Wheeler was taken into custody on April 15, 2025. He faces five charges of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor under section 16-15-405. Each charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Individuals with further information related to this investigation are encouraged to reach out to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office at (864)503-4500.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case. Attorney General Wilson reminded, “all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
Child sexual abuse material, abbreviated as CSAM, is deliberately used instead of the term “pornography” to underscore the non-consensual nature of the content and the abuse involved. The global shift towards using CSAM highlights the abusive and criminal nature of the materials.
