Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Lowcountry man sentenced to 12 years for sex crimes against minors

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that Edward Leroy Allen has been sentenced to 12 years in prison on Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor charges in Charleston and Dorchester counties.

Allen pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2^nd degree and one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 3^rd degree on charges from Charleston County, and one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 2^nd degree and one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 2^nd degree on charges from Dorchester County.

On December 2, 2019, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating that a web server had reportedly found almost a hundred images of child sexual abuse material on their servers. Law enforcement was provided information for the uploads, which came back to Dorchester County. Further investigation revealed that the resident, Edward Allen, had recently moved to Charleston County. On December 3, 2019, Detective Kenny Clark with the Mt. Pleasant Police Department met with the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office in reference to the Cybertip and Inv. Clark obtained a search warrant for Allen’s cell phone. Investigators examined the cell phone and found more than 1,000 images of child sexual abuse material on the device.

In addition, law enforcement found hundreds of images where Allen appeared to be sexually assaulting two different teen boys. Both victims were subsequently interviewed and indicated that the sexual assaults took place in Charleston County and in Dorchester County. 

Allen received a sentence of 20 years suspended to 12 years at the South Carolina Department of Corrections and will have to register as a Tier 2 sex offender. He will receive credit for 951 days served.