South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of two men from Dorchester County on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. Brandon Osmond, 24, from Ladson, and Dustin Mcaulay Brodie, 32, from Summerville, face a total of 23 charges in these separate cases.
The arrests were made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office. The investigations were supported by the Attorney General's Office, also part of the state's ICAC Task Force.
The investigation began after CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) pointed to both Osmond and Brodie. According to investigators, both individuals distributed files containing child sexual abuse material.
Osmond was taken into custody on November 8, 2024. He faces 20 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor under §16-15-405. Each count is a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Brodie was arrested on November 14, 2024. He is charged with three counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor under §16-15-405. Like Osmond's charges, each count against Brodie is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
These cases will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office. Attorney General Wilson emphasized that "all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law."
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is now used globally as it more accurately describes these crimes than "child pornography," which may suggest consent where there can be none.