Richland County Man Arrested on Child Porn Charges

RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO) – A 33-year-old Richland County man has been arrested on ten charges connected to the exploitation of a minor.

S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Joseph Hewitt Tuesday. Wilson said Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department arrested Hewitt on August 24. Investigators with the A.G.’s office assisted with the investigation.

Wilson said a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led them to Hewitt, who they say distributed multiple files of child pornography.

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office. Sexual exploitation of a minor is a felony offense punishable by up to ten years imprisonment on each count.