Berkeley County Sheriff's Office Makes Second Child Porn Arrest in a Week

Columbia, S.C. - October 25, 2012. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of David Scott Pearson (DOB: 5/09/1966) of Moncks Corner, S.C. for five (5) counts involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, a member of the Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, made the arrest.

On September 30, 2012, a Berkeley County Sheriff's Office undercover detective downloaded two files containing child pornography. On October 22, 2012, sheriff's deputies executed a search warrant at Pearson's residence. Pearson admitted he had "downloaded some questionable material." Three laptop computers, several computer hard drives, several flash memory cards, CD's and DVD's and associated electronic equipment were seized from the residence. Six firearms were also taken for safety reasons. Pearson's two young children were placed in the custody of Pearson's mother.

A preliminary review of the hard drives from Pearson's computers revealed numerous files containing child pornography. Pearson was arrested and charged with two (2) counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor second degree (16-15-405), a felony offense punishable by two to ten (2 to 10) years imprisonment on each count, and three (3) counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor third degree (16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to ten (10) years imprisonment on each count. Additional charges may be forthcoming when a complete forensics report is completed by the Attorney General's Office.

Pearson was assigned a surety bond of $50,000 and was ordered to have no contact with children under the age of 16; no electronic communications devices (cell phones, computing devices, etc.) with the exception of a landline telephone; no Internet use; was restricted from schools; malls and child playgrounds; and must not reside closer than one mile of school.

A booking photo is available through the Hill-Finklea Detention Center.

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.