Charleston man sentenced to 5 years in prison for soliciting a minor

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – A Charleston man is going to prison for five years for soliciting what he thought was a minor. Today, Samuel Swim pleaded guilty to Criminal Solicitation of a Minor before the Honorable Deadra Jefferson in Charleston County.

From 2019 to 2020, Swim engaged in online conversations with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl.  Investigator Jason Bowen with the Charleston County Sheriff’s office, while acting in his official capacity and within Charleston County, posed as a 14-year-old persona online.  Specifically, Swim spoke with the persona by text messages from March 6, 2020 to March 27, 2020. Swim acknowledged the persona’s age several times throughout the conversations. Swim repeatedly encouraged the persona to engage in sexual activity. 

Judge Jefferson sentenced Swim to five years in prison at the South Carolina Department of Corrections. He will have to register as a sex offender upon his release. Assistant Attorney General Stephen Ryan prosecuted this case.