Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Herbert Alton Mozingo, Jr., a 41-year-old resident of Bishopville, S.C., on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest was carried out by investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force associated with the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. The Lee County Sheriff's Office and Homeland Security Investigations, also part of the state's ICAC Task Force, supported the investigation.

The investigation began after a CyberTipline report was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Mozingo is accused of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Mozingo was taken into custody on April 10, 2025. He faces one count of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree and one count in the third degree, both felony offenses each carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

The Attorney General's Office will handle the prosecution. Attorney General Wilson emphasized that "all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law."

The term child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, is utilized because it is a more precise description of the material than "pornography," which can incorrectly suggest the child was a willing participant. CSAM is increasingly being used globally for this reason.