Quantcast

Florence man charged with multiple counts related to child exploitation

LEGAL NEWSLINE

Friday, January 17, 2025

Florence man charged with multiple counts related to child exploitation

Attorneys & Judges
Webp xqp1nhxziauqy7j1j6hkw5jgcd0x

Attorney General Alan Wilson | Attorney General Alan Wilson, SC

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of Malike Williams, a 29-year-old resident of Florence, South Carolina. Williams faces seven charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Attorney General's Office. They were assisted by investigators from both the Florence County Sheriff's Office and the Florence Police Department, which are also part of the state's ICAC Task Force.

The investigation began following a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). According to investigators, Williams is accused of engaging in criminal sexual conduct with a minor and manufacturing and possessing files containing child sexual abuse material.

Williams was taken into custody on January 14, 2025. He is charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree, one count of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor—both felony offenses—and five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The charges carry potential sentences ranging from up to 10 years imprisonment per count for third-degree offenses to up to 20 years for first-degree offenses.

The Attorney General's Office will prosecute this case. 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 used as a term instead of "child pornography" because it more accurately describes these serious crimes without implying consent from victims.

ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY

More News