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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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