South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of Tremell Bethea, a 19-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina. Bethea faces one charge related to the sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest was carried out by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Mount Pleasant Police Department, with assistance from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
According to investigators, Bethea is accused of producing child sexual abuse material. He was taken into custody on July 9, 2025, and charged with one count of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor under section §16-15-395. This felony offense carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The term “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM) is used to more accurately describe these crimes, as it reflects the abusive nature without implying consent from the victim. Globally, this term is replacing “child pornography” for clarity and accuracy.
