Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of three men from York County on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrests were made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the York County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Attorney General's Office.

The individuals arrested are Christian Jean Magro, Jr., 26, from York, S.C.; Didier Christopher Lopez, 28, from Fort Mill, S.C.; and Grover Lester Denton, Jr., 73, from Clover, S.C. The arrests stemmed from a CyberTipline report received by investigators from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

According to investigators, Denton was found in possession of files containing child sexual abuse material. Magro and Lopez were found to have possessed and distributed similar materials.

Denton was taken into custody on October 29, 2024. He faces five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-410), each carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.

Magro was arrested on October 28, 2024. His charges include one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-405), punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment; and four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-410), each also punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

Lopez was arrested on October 29, 2024. He is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-405) and three counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-410). Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.

Denton had been out on bond following an earlier arrest on related charges in 2022. All cases will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

The term "child sexual abuse material" (CSAM) is used as it more accurately describes the nature of these crimes compared to "pornography," which can imply consent by minors involved. Globally, CSAM is replacing the term child pornography for this reason.