Palmetto State News

Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced that Bunky Wayne Balcombe, a registered sex offender, has received a prison sentence of 10 years. Balcombe entered a guilty plea to four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor in Laurens County, with proceedings overseen by Judge Eugene C. Griffith, Jr.

The legal developments followed an incident on August 18, 2023, when the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate a potential sex-related crime. At the scene, law enforcement engaged with two individuals who had interacted with Balcombe. Prior to the arrival of authorities, Balcombe confessed to these individuals that he had communicated with underage girls across various platforms and possessed child sexual abuse material on his phone. Balcombe even showed them images of the material during their wait for law enforcement.

Investigator Jonathan Brown was alerted and arrived to question Balcombe, who, after being read his Miranda rights, confirmed the presence of the illicit material on his phone. A further examination verified multiple images of child sexual abuse, leading to Balcombe's arrest.

Judge Griffith sentenced Balcombe to 15 years, with the term reduced to 10 years followed by five years of probation. Balcombe received credit for 180 days already served and his cell phone was confiscated. Prior to his recent conviction, Balcombe had been prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s office in 2019.