A Gaston, South Carolina man has been arrested on charges related to the possession of artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to an announcement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. The arrest is among the first under a new state law that classifies AI-generated CSAM as a felony.
Adam Asad Kelton, 25, was taken into custody on October 30, 2025. The investigation was conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force with officers from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and support from the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services.
Authorities allege that Kelton possessed files containing AI-generated CSAM. He faces two counts of possession of a visual depiction or representation of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, activity, or nudity under state law (§16-15-390(C)). Each count carries a potential penalty of up to ten years in prison.
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.”
The term child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is increasingly used worldwide instead of “child pornography” to more accurately describe such crimes and avoid implying any consent by minors.
