South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of Michael Todd Knox, 55, of Union, South Carolina. Knox faces four charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrest was carried out by investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force within the Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began after a CyberTipline report was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Investigators allege that Knox distributed files containing child sexual abuse material.
Knox was taken into custody on September 5, 2025. He is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree (§16-15-405), which is a felony offense. Each count carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Wilson stated: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
The term “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM) is used instead of “child pornography” because it more accurately reflects the abusive nature of these crimes. The word “pornography” can suggest consent, which is not possible for children. Internationally, there is a shift toward using CSAM to describe such offenses.
