A West Columbia man has been arrested on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, according to an announcement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Michael David Walla, 70, faces five felony counts for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material.
The arrest was made by investigators with the University of South Carolina Police Department. The investigation also involved the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force from the Attorney General’s Office.
Walla was taken into custody on August 14, 2025. He is charged with five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor under state law (ยง16-15-410). Each count carries a possible penalty of up to ten years in prison.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case.
Attorney General Wilson stated: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
The press release clarified that “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM) is now used instead of “child pornography,” as the former more accurately describes materials involving child victims and avoids implying consent by minors. This change in terminology reflects a global trend toward more precise language about such offenses.
