Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of Christopher Mason Black, a 23-year-old resident of Little Mountain, South Carolina. Black faces charges related to the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the South Carolina Attorney General's Office, with assistance from the Newberry Police Department.

According to investigators, Black allegedly traveled to meet an individual he believed to be a minor for sexual purposes. He was taken into custody on October 22, 2024, and is charged with one count of attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor under section §16-3-655(B)(1). This felony charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office. Attorney General Wilson emphasized that "all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law."

In discussing crimes involving minors, it was noted that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is considered a more accurate term than "child pornography," as it reflects the abusive nature of these crimes without implying consent from the victim.