Computer Search Yields Child Pornography

Berkeley Co. Sheriff’s Office Arrests Summerville Man

(COLUMBIA, S.C. – October 18, 2012) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Scott Douglas Marriott (DOB: 06/21/1976) of Summerville, S.C. for fifteen (15) 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 23, 2012, a Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office undercover detective downloaded five video files from the suspect’s computer which were available for public access and were shared using a file-sharing program. All five files contained child pornography as defined by South Carolina state law.  On October 10, 2012, Berkeley County deputies executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence in Summerville and seized three laptop computers, a desktop computer and other electronic devices.  A forensic preview of that computer equipment revealed numerous files with videos depicting children as young as infants engaged in sexual activity with adults.

Marriott was arrested on October 17, 2012, and charged with five (5) 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 ten (10) 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.

Marriott was assigned a surety bond of $75,000 and was ordered to have no contact with children under the age of 17; no electronic communications devices (cell phones, computing devices. etc.) with the exception of a landline telephone; was restricted from schools, malls and child playgrounds; and must not reside closer than one mile of a school.

A booking photo is available through the Berkeley County Detention Center in Monck’s Corner, S.C.

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.