Three Lowcountry Men Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - March 1, 2019 - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Kamal Malik Howard (age 21) and Richard Alan Baker (age 54), both of  Summerville, SC, and Christopher William King (age 24), of North Charleston, SC, on 20 charges each connected to the sexual exploitation of minors.  Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office made the arrests.  Investigators with the Attorney General's Office, Summerville Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), all also members of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with these investigations and arrests.

Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to Howard. Investigators state Howard possessed files of child pornography.  Howard was arrested on February 25, 2019.  Howard is charged with 20 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to Baker. Investigators state Baker possessed files of child pornography.  Baker was arrested on February 27, 2019.  Baker is charged with 20 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

Investigators state King possessed files of child pornography.  King was arrested on February 28, 2019.  He is charged with 20 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.