South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Albert Ja Von Smalls, 21, from North Charleston, on 10 charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.
According to investigators, Smalls possessed files containing child sexual abuse material. He was taken into custody on February 26, 2026. Smalls faces 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree (§16-15-410), which is a felony that carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment for each count.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute this case. “Attorney General Wilson stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is now used as a term to more accurately describe these crimes, replacing “child pornography” because it clarifies that children cannot consent and highlights the abusive nature of such offenses.
The South Carolina Attorney General serves as the state’s chief legal advocate and enforcer, overseeing prosecutions and regulatory matters across South Carolina (official website). The office supports victims through advocacy and resources and works with state law enforcement agencies on criminal cases (official website). Alan Wilson leads these efforts as head of the office (official website).
