A Kershaw man has been arrested on multiple charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to an announcement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Demario Markeece Early, 35, was taken into custody by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities allege that Early engaged in criminal sexual conduct with a minor and possessed files containing child sexual abuse material. He was arrested on August 8, 2025.
Early faces one count of criminal sexual conduct with a minor under state law (§16-3-655(A)(1)), ten counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor (§16-15-410), each carrying up to 10 years in prison if convicted, and one count of failure to register (§23-03-470(A)), which is classified as a misdemeanor.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case.
Attorney General Wilson stated: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
According to the press release, child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is now used instead of “child pornography” because it more accurately describes the abusive nature of these crimes and avoids implying consent by minors. The term CSAM is increasingly adopted globally for this reason.
