Attorney General Alan Wilson applauds Senate for advancing S.723 which strengthens penalties for child exploitation

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) –South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson made the following statement applauding the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee for advancing S.723 to the full Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Protecting minors is not political; it is a moral obligation. It's time to put our state's children first. We’re asking for these mandatory minimums because they highlight the importance and gravity of these crimes. As a father and as Attorney General, I understand that there is no greater calling than protecting children. Our office will continue to work alongside law enforcement and prosecutors to hold offenders accountable.”

The bill would raise the mandatory minimum sentences for creating and distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material, create new mandatory minimum tiered sentencing for possessing CSAM, with longer sentences for possessing more images or videos, and establish a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for any registered sex offender found guilty of possessing CSAM.

Watch the Attorney General's testimony here.