Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the sentencing of Alberto Mercado, Jr., an Illinois resident, who pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to sex offenses against a minor. The plea took place in Richland County before Judge Daniel Coble.

The charges include Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Person under the Age of 12, Criminal Solicitation of a Minor, and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the First Degree. The case dates back to May 11, 2018, when the Richland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a concerned citizen who discovered inappropriate texts on her child's phone. Investigations revealed that Mercado had met the 12-year-old victim through a chat site and exchanged phone numbers.

Despite knowing the age of the minor, Mercado engaged in explicit conversations and sent sexually explicit images and videos. He also received similar content from the victim. Authorities identified him as a registered sex offender from Illinois.

Judge Coble sentenced Mercado to eight years in prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Additionally, he received credit for 233 days already served concerning Criminal Solicitation of a Minor and Dissemination of Obscene Material charges. Upon release, Mercado will be required to continue registering as a sex offender.