<b>From staff reports</b>

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest on May 7 of Perry Oswald Scoon-Dillard of Beaufort on three charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Beaufort County Sheriff's Office investigators received a lead from the S.C. Attorney General's Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) initiative of child pornography being uploaded to the internet from computers and/or electronic devices at 107 Joppa Road in Shell Point. Further investigation substantiated the lead and revealed that the child pornography had been uploaded by the sole occupant of the residence, the 36-year-old Scoon-Dillard.

Based on the information, Sheriff's Office investigators obtained a warrant from a Beaufort County magistrate to search the Joppa Road residence to locate and seize the computers and/or electronic devices used to upload the child pornography. Investigators also obtained warrants from the magistrate for the arrest of Perry Scoon-Dillard for three counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor 3rd Degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

On Thursday, May 7, Sheriff's Office investigators served the search warrant at 107 Joppa Road. Scoon-Dillard was at the residence at the time and was taken into custody. Investigators searched the residence and seized computers and other electronic devices.

Perry Scoon-Dillard was transported to the Beaufort County Detention Center and incarcerated. He has since been released on bond.

In-depth forensic examinations of the seized computers and other electronic devices will be performed by the S.C. Attorney General's Office, which, pending the results of analyses, could lead to additional criminal charges.

Anyone who has information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Sergeant Jennifer Snider at 843-255-3421 or Crimestoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111, if wishing to remain anonymous and for possible reward.

The S.C. Attorney General's Office will prosecute Scoon-Dillard for all criminal charges stemming from this ICAC investigation. Attorney General Wilson stresses all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.