South Carolina – Authorities in South Carolina have arrested an Upstate man following an investigation that began after a minor gave birth to a child, according to police.
The case came to light in mid-December when law enforcement was alerted to the birth of a baby at a hospital.
Officials said the mother was 13 years old at the time of delivery, prompting an immediate response from investigators trained in handling cases involving minors.
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According to Fox Carolina citing the local police department, a Special Victims Investigator was contacted on December 18 after the teenager delivered the child in hospital. Medical staff reported concerns that led to law enforcement involvement, including toxicology results indicating that both the teen and the newborn tested positive for THC.
Those findings, combined with the age of the mother, triggered a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy and birth.
As investigators worked to determine how the pregnancy occurred, they identified the father of the child as a 28-year-old man. Police stated that evidence gathered during the investigation pointed to an illegal se-ual relationship between the adult suspect and the minor.
Authorities also reported uncovering additional alleged criminal activity involving inappropriate communications and material connected to the case.
In the second phase of the investigation, Abbeville police confirmed that the suspect was Torren Simmons, an Upstate resident. According to the police, investigators determined that Simmons was not only involved in criminal se-ual conduct with the minor but had also produced child se-ual abuse material involving the victim.
Police further stated that Simmons allegedly sent obscene material to the child and engaged in actions intended to solicit the minor.
Based on the findings, Simmons was taken into custody and formally charged with multiple offenses. Police said the charges include second-degree criminal se-ual conduct with a minor, second-degree se-ual exploitation of a minor, dissemination of obscene material to a person 12 and under, and criminal solicitation of a minor. Each charge carries serious legal consequences under South Carolina law.
Officials emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional details may emerge as authorities continue to review evidence and conduct interviews. Police also noted that cases involving minors and se-ual exploitation are handled with particular care, involving specialized investigators and coordination with medical and child welfare professionals.
Authorities encouraged anyone with information related to crimes involving children to contact law enforcement, stressing that timely reporting can be critical in preventing further harm.
