Berkeley Co. man sentenced to 10 years for soliciting minor

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that on Thursday, April 14, 2022, Charles Hajek pleaded guilty to Criminal Solicitation of a Minor in Berkeley County before the Honorable Deadra Jefferson. 

On January 22, 2021, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and investigators from across the state participated in an undercover operation in Berkeley County posing as minors on various social media accounts. Charles Hajek contacted an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. Hajek acknowledged the undercover persona’s age and continued to solicit the persona to engage in sexual activity. Hajek received an address from the undercover persona and traveled to the predetermined location to have sex with the minor. Upon his arrival, officers arrested him. During an interview, Hajek acknowledged communicating with the undercover persona.

Judge Jefferson sentenced Hajek to 10 years in prison. Upon his release, he will have to register as a sex offender. At the time of his arrest, Hajek was on probation for an unrelated assault and battery conviction in Dorchester County in 2020. Judge Jefferson also revoked Hajek’s probation during his plea hearing and he will serve 10 years for the assault charge. Those sentences will run concurrently. During the case, prosecutors worked closely with the Dorchester Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon. 

Assistant Attorney General Stephen Ryan prosecuted the case.