Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of Rio Dirk Mahealani N. Galiza, a 33-year-old resident of Bluffton, South Carolina. The arrest is in connection with four charges related to the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. The investigation and subsequent arrest were carried out by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.

According to investigators, Galiza allegedly encouraged a minor to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM), distributed and possessed such material, and sent sexually explicit images to a minor. These actions led to his arrest on October 25, 2024.

Galiza faces multiple charges: one count of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-395), which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment; one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-405), punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment; one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-410), also carrying up to 10 years imprisonment; and one count of dissemination of obscene material to a person under age twelve (§16-15-355), which could result in up to 15 years imprisonment.

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."

The term "child sexual abuse material" or CSAM is being used instead of "child pornography" because it more accurately reflects the nature of these crimes. The global shift from using "pornography" aims to avoid implying any consent on the part of minors involved in such materials.