Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Lexington Co. man sentenced to 8 years for possessing child sexual abuse material

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that Jeffery Dubose Griffin has been sentenced to eight years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material. On July 26, 2022, Griffin entered an Alford plea to one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a minor, 3^rd Degree, in Lexington County before the Honorable Debra R. McCaslin. An Alford plea is when a defendant does not admit guilt but agrees there’s enough evidence to lead to a conviction, so pleads guilty as part of a plea agreement.

On August 30, 2017, an investigator with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office received two Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child sexual abuse material being transmitted over two social media accounts. Subscriber information associated with the social media accounts led to an address in Gaston in Lexington County. Additional data from the social media company revealed more child sexual abuse material on Griffin’s account. Further investigation showed that Griffin lived at that address. Investigators served a search warrant on Griffin’s residence on July 16, 2018. The investigation led to the discovery of a minor victim who was depicted in some of the child sexual abuse material.

Judge McCaslin sentenced Griffin to 15 years in prison, suspended to eight years at the South Carolina Department of Corrections followed by three years of probation. He must register as a sex offender upon his release, there is a permanent restraining order that he must have no contact with the victim, and he forfeited his devices in the commission of the sexual exploitation of a minor charges that were dismissed pursuant to the Alford plea.