Austin Brez Jones, 31, of Greenville, South Carolina, has been arrested on four charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Attorney General’s Office. Both agencies are members of the state’s ICAC Task Force.
The investigation began after a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led authorities to Jones. Investigators allege that Jones distributed files containing child sexual abuse material.
Jones was taken into custody on February 18, 2026. He faces four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree (§16-15-405), each carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute this case.
Attorney General Alan Wilson emphasized: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is considered a more accurate term for these offenses than “child pornography,” as it reflects the abusive nature of these crimes and avoids implying consent by victims.
The South Carolina Attorney General serves as the state’s chief legal advocate and enforcer, overseeing prosecutions and regulatory matters such as securities and consumer protection across South Carolina (official website). The office works with law enforcement agencies statewide to prosecute criminal cases and supports victims through advocacy programs (official website). Alan Wilson currently leads the office (official website).
