Easley Man Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of 39-year-old Shawn Phillip Elliott of Easley on four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree. Investigators from the Easley Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Attorney General’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, determined that Elliott distributed files containing child sexual abuse material. Elliott was taken into custody on January 16, 2026. Each felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office. Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.