Richland County man sentenced to four years for child pornography

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Jan. 25, 2019 - A Richland County man has been sentenced to four years in prison for possessing more than 1,300 files of child pornography.

Richard D. Albert, represented by Todd Rutherford, pleaded guilty on August 28, 2018 to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Third Degree in front of Judge Jocelyn Newman in Richland County.   He was sentenced Wednesday, January 23rd.

“Our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force continues to do great work getting these child predators off our streets,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “I hope this sends a message to others out there that we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

On February 29^th, 2016, Special Investigator Kevin Atkins with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted a proactive investigation into the use of computer file sharing programs for possession and distribution of files depicting the sexual exploitation of minors on the internet. Special Investigator Atkins downloaded a file containing child pornography from Albert’s computer, which was located in Richland County. The case was referred to Investigator Richard Carter of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, who is also a member of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Investigator Carter subsequently executed a search warrant at Albert’s home in Richland County where 19 computer-related devices were seized. A forensic examination of the seized devices led to the discovery of over 1,300 files containing child pornography which were spread over 14 of the 19 seized devices.