HomeSouth CarolinaAuthorities charge South Carolina woman in case involving alleged abuse of minor

Authorities charge South Carolina woman in case involving alleged abuse of minor

Fort Mill, South Carolina – South Carolina authorities say a Fort Mill woman is facing multiple charges after an investigation tied to the alleged sexual exploitation of minors led to her arrest earlier this week.

Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that Lindsay Rene Byrd, 41, of Fort Mill, was arrested on May 11, 2026, following an investigation by members of the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Read also: S.C. AG Wilson joins fight to save children’s clinics with massive legal blitz against federal woke healthcare takeover

Investigators with the York County Sheriff’s Office, who are part of the ICAC Task Force, made the arrest, while investigators from the Attorney General’s Office also assisted in the case.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the investigation began after authorities received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. That report led investigators to Byrd.

Officials said investigators believe Byrd engaged in criminal sexual conduct with a minor and produced files described as child sexual abuse material.

Read also: National Women’s Health Week puts preventive care in focus across South Carolina

Byrd is charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, third degree, under South Carolina law §16-3-655(C).

She also faces two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, first degree, under §16-15-395. First-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a felony offense in South Carolina and carries a possible penalty of up to 20 years in prison on each count.

The case now moves into the court system, where it will be prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

The charges mark another case connected to the broader work of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a law enforcement network focused on investigating reports involving the online exploitation and abuse of children.

Read also: Sen. Tim Scott celebrates epic $212 million investment for Charleston Coast Guard base

Officials did not release additional details about the minor involved or the specific circumstances surrounding the alleged conduct.

The Attorney General’s Office also noted the role of the CyberTipline, a reporting system operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that helps route suspected child exploitation reports to law enforcement agencies for review and investigation.

Attorney General Wilson emphasized that the case remains an accusation at this stage. He stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

Latest

Fentanyl deaths fall, but South Carolina families still count the empty chairs

Florence, South Carolina - Renee McCall keeps her brother’s...

OPINION: We wanted growth in Florence but we didn’t sign up for the traffic

By Mike Dalwin NOTE: This is an opinion piece reflecting...

Letter to the editor: Florence School Spending (how much money is making it to the classrooms)

By M. P. (full name withheld for privacy) In response...

Gas prices ease in Florence, but drivers say one drop will not erase months of strain

Florence, South Carolina - Gas prices across South Carolina...

Newsletter

Random articles

In the Pee Dee, bad roads and daily traffic are turning short drives into long frustrations

Florence, South Carolina - Calvin McBride knows which pothole...

When health care is far away, sickness gets a head start in South Carolina

Clarendon County, South Carolina – On the inside of...
Henry Hall
Henry Hall
News Desk Lead Henry Hall leads the news desk and directs coverage of breaking news, public safety, local government, and investigative reporting. A journalist with several years of experience, he previously reported and edited at daily newspapers across South Carolina and the Southeast. Henry is known for building deep sources throughout Florence County and for his ability to translate complex issues into reporting that matters to residents. A longtime resident of the Florence area, he is deeply invested in the community he covers.

Fentanyl deaths fall, but South Carolina families still count the empty chairs

Florence, South Carolina - Renee McCall keeps her brother’s last voicemail because she is afraid of forgetting the sound of him sober. It is...

OPINION: We wanted growth in Florence but we didn’t sign up for the traffic

By Mike Dalwin NOTE: This is an opinion piece reflecting the author’s personal observations and experiences. The views expressed here are those of the writer...

Letter to the editor: Florence School Spending (how much money is making it to the classrooms)

By M. P. (full name withheld for privacy) In response to: We analyze: Where Florence’s money really goes as city and county budgets climb Letter: If you...