Palmetto State News

South Carolina authorities have arrested a man from Pickens County on multiple charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, as per the announcement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Dacus Ethen King, a 35-year-old resident of Easley, S.C., was apprehended by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators associated with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office. The investigation into the case was a collaboration that included investigators from the Attorney General's Office, which is part of the state's ICAC Task Force.

The arrest of King on April 8, 2025, came after investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The report led law enforcement to conclude that King was involved in the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.

King faces one charge of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, a felony with a potential punishment of up to 10 years in prison. In addition, he is charged with five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, each carrying a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

The prosecution of the case will be handled by the Attorney General's Office. In his remarks, Attorney General Wilson emphasized, "all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law."

An explanatory note was included by the Attorney General clarifying that the term "child sexual abuse material" (CSAM) is preferred over "child pornography," as the latter can imply consent, which is not possible in the context of these crimes.

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