South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of James Dale McKenzie on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. McKenzie, aged 49 and from Sharon, South Carolina, was apprehended by the York County Sheriff’s Office investigators who are part of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
The investigation that led to McKenzie’s arrest began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) provided a CyberTipline report. Authorities allege that McKenzie was in possession of files containing child sexual abuse material.
James Dale McKenzie was arrested on April 29, 2025, and he faces three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree. Each count, under §16-15-410, is classified as a felony, and the charges could lead to a maximum of 10 years in prison per count if convicted.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will be responsible for prosecuting the case. Attorney General Wilson has emphasized that at this stage of the proceedings, all defendants, including McKenzie, are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The terminology used for these charges reflects a shift in language. The term “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM) is replacing “child pornography” globally, to more accurately describe such materials, as the latter term may suggest the child was a consenting participant.
