Lexington County Man Among First in South Carolina Arrested Over AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
LEXINGTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA — Investigators have arrested a 25-year-old Gaston man accused of possessing AI-generated child sexual abuse material, marking one of the first arrests under South Carolina’s new law targeting computer-generated child exploitation imagery.
According to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Adam Asad Kelton was taken into custody on October 30, 2025, following an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Arrest Made Under New AI Exploitation Statute
Authorities said Kelton possessed multiple files that appeared to be artificially generated depictions of minors engaged in explicit acts. The content, officials noted, was created through AI systems capable of producing realistic but synthetic images, which are now illegal under South Carolina’s updated child protection statute.
The ICAC Task Force, working in coordination with the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, executed the arrest after tracing the material to Kelton’s electronic devices.
Serious Felony Charges and Possible Prison Time
Kelton faces two felony counts of possession of a visual depiction or representation of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, activity, or nudity. Each count carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, meaning he could face 20 years total if convicted on all charges.
Officials emphasized that this case highlights how artificial intelligence technology is being used to create realistic images of child exploitation, raising new legal and ethical challenges for law enforcement.
State Attorney General’s Office Leading Prosecution
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case. Investigators say it could serve as an early test of the state’s new AI-focused child exploitation laws, which were enacted to close loopholes that allowed offenders to generate synthetic content without directly involving real children.
Law enforcement agencies across the state have been expanding their digital forensics units to handle cases involving AI-enhanced imagery, deepfakes, and emerging technology used for online exploitation.
As South Carolina begins to enforce its new digital-crime statutes, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department continues urging parents and guardians to monitor children’s online activity and report suspicious digital content. For more updates on technology-related crimes and public safety news, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.