Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the sentencing of Gabriel Hostetler, an Upstate man, to prison for the sexual exploitation of minors. On September 3, 2024, Hostetler pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Third Degree, in Pickens County before Judge William C. McMaster III.

The case began on June 27, 2021, when Special Investigator Kevin Atkins from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office conducted a proactive investigation into the use of a file-sharing network for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. During this investigation, Atkins identified a user sharing such material from a residence in Inman, South Carolina. The case was then referred to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office for further action.

A search warrant was executed at the Inman residence on December 15, 2021. Although Hostetler was not present at that time, he was later apprehended and interviewed. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Hostetler admitted to using his cell phone to share child sexual abuse material. A search of his device revealed multiple images of such material. Consequently, Hostetler was arrested and charged with ten counts each of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Second Degree (distribution) and Third Degree (possession).

On September 26, 2022, Special Investigator Atkins again found a user sharing child sexual abuse material online. This time the activity was traced to Easley, South Carolina. The case was referred to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office but ultimately led law enforcement to Spartanburg after determining that residents had moved there.

Law enforcement located the homeowner who disclosed that his brother Gabriel Hostetler had lived with him during the file-sharing event and had since moved to Pickens County. A referral was made to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office which resulted in obtaining a search warrant for Hostetler's new residence on October 6, 2022. During this search, Hostetler admitted to continuing possession of illegal images on his devices.

Judge McMaster sentenced Hostetler to six years on each charge with sentences running concurrently. He received credit for 787 days already served in jail and will be required to register as a Tier 2 sex offender upon release.