Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Blythewood woman sentenced to 28 years for sexually assaulting infant

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that on January 30, 2024, Taylor Schiel pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1^st degree in Richland County before the Honorable Thomas W. Cooper, Jr.

On August 20, 2021, Special Investigator Jason Hughes with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office received a phone call from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) regarding a request for information from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Per the request, Investigator Anthony Tucker, an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force officer in Texas, had been working a cybertip involving an individual in Texas. While working the investigation, law enforcement reviewed a cell phone and found a video of the sexual assault of a baby boy located in Blythewood, South Carolina. After receiving the Texas case file, Special Investigator Jason Hughes began his investigation. Investigator Hughes’ investigation revealed that an adult woman named Taylor Schiel lived at the residence associated with the video. An exhaustive search of Ms. Schiel’s social media accounts was conducted by Forensic Examiner Jamie Johnson with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and the examination revealed several videos showing the sexual assault of a male infant. Many of the videos of the sexual assault of the baby were spliced with videos of Ms. Schiel engaging in sexual activity with an adult male.

On August 25^th, 2021, a search warrant was executed at the Blythewood residence. Ms. Schiel was at home at the time and, after being advised of her Miranda rights, agreed to speak to Investigator Hughes. Ms. Schiel admitted to sexually assaulting the baby, recording the assaults, and sending the videos to the individual in Texas.

Judge Cooper sentenced Ms. Schiel to 20 years in prison on one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1^st degree; and eight years on the 2^nd count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1^st degree, to be run consecutively for a total of 28 years at the South Carolina Department of Corrections. She received credit for 899 days and will have to register as a Tier 2 sex offender upon her release.

I want to take the time to acknowledge the hard work of Texas Investigator Anthony Tucker, who was very helpful in providing case information to the SC Attorney General’s Office regarding his findings, as well as SCAG Investigator Jason Hughes, who worked tirelessly to apprehend Ms. Schiel as quickly as possible so that she could not further victimize the child. Also, a special thank you to Forensic Examiner Jamie Johnson who examined countless images and videos searching for files showing the assault of the baby. Her exam made it possible to bring additional charges against Ms. Schiel after her initial arrest.