Attorney General Alan Wilson has confirmed that Abel Sanjuan Tranquilino has been sentenced to prison following a guilty plea for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor in the 2nd degree. The plea was entered on January 15, 2025, in Charleston County before Judge Milton G. Kimpson.
The case dates back to August 25, 2022, when Detective James Jacko of the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation after speaking with family members of a 15-year-old minor from Charleston County. According to the family, Tranquilino had been discovered hiding in the minor's bedroom in June of that year. Although an investigation began at that time, Tranquilino continued to contact the minor.
The investigation revealed that Tranquilino provided the minor with a phone and used it to make video calls and send explicit content. Law enforcement examined the victim's cell phone and found corroborating evidence in text messages. The minor reported sexual activity with Tranquilino occurring between July 1 and September 7, 2022.
Judge Kimpson handed down an eight-year prison sentence to Tranquilino, accounting for the 862 days he had already served. Upon his release, he will be required to register as a sex offender.