Palmetto State News

A Lexington County man has been arrested on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, according to an announcement by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Daniel Phillip Bush, 60, from Cayce, S.C., faces three charges following his arrest by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Lexington Police Department. The investigation was supported by the Attorney General's Office, which is part of the state's ICAC Task Force.

Authorities report that Bush solicited and traveled to meet someone he believed was a minor for sexual purposes. He was taken into custody on February 12, 2025. Bush is charged with two counts of criminal solicitation of a minor (§16-15-342), each carrying a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Additionally, he faces one count of attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor (§16-3-655(B)(1)).

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office. In his statement, Attorney General Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

In discussing terminology related to such cases, it was noted that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is increasingly used as it more accurately describes these crimes than "pornography," which may imply consent from the child involved. Globally, CSAM is replacing the term child pornography for this reason.