Source: foxcarolina.com 1/8/25
COLUMBIA, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – As South Carolina lawmakers prepare to head back to the statehouse, there’s now a push to crack down on penalties for child predators.
FOX Carolina Investigates previously uncovered how hundreds of offenders convicted of having child pornography are able to avoid prison time.
In South Carolina, if someone has child pornography, also called child sexual abuse material, they are charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. The law carries three degrees depending on the severity of the crime.
For first degree, which is the most severe, the minimum sentence is three years. For second degree, the minimum sentence is two years, but for third degree, there is no minimum sentence.
Because there is no minimum sentence, many offenders are able to serve their time in the community on house arrest or probation instead of in prison.
“If you don’t have a minimum, I think we’re expressing to our judicial system that we feel like you can just let people walk if you so desire in your sentencing,” said Sen. Allen Blackmon, who represents Chesterfield, Kershaw and Lancaster Counties.
Blackmon pre-filed a bill that would increase minimum penalties for the first and second degree and create a minimum penalty for third degree, depending on how much CSAM an offender possesses.
“I believe that by increasing the minimums, I think we’re going to make the deterrent a little bit better to try to deter this kind of behavior, and that’s the justice,” Blackmon said. “We’re here to help the children.”
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Another bill, pre-filed by Representative Chris Wooten, would increase the minimum penalty for the first degree statute to 25 years.
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The government always think they can arrest our way out of a problem instead of dealing with the issues that lead to it. So sick of this sh*t on many fronts. Lazy and stupid most of these people are. If they cared they would work a little harder.
What idiocy! They think increasing penalties is going to be a deterrent. We’ve talked in the forum how no one, NO ONE, thinks about the level of penalties they’d receive based upon conviction if they’re caught. The question becomes, as noted here already, what are they doing with the time these folks have on their hands for working on overcoming the issues which precipitated the acts. Anything? No, they cannot do that because you don’t re-elected on prevention with no associated stats to espouse during campaigning.
Representative Chris Wooten, would increase the minimum penalty for the first degree statute to 25 years.
Thats the stuff I always find comical.Yes its wrong to have said material, but to give them a sentence as if they murdered someone? Thats when you know the laws are emotionally driven and not with rational thought……
When will these people learn? Longer prison sentences aren’t deterrents. The only thing that will deter someone, is the certainty of being caught.
Blackmon said. “We’re here to help the children.”
His biggest error in judgment is thinking tough sentencing for cp is a “deterrent.”
His SECOND biggest error in judgment is thinking the registry will “help the children.”
It’s all a grandiose and performative clown show for votes. Posturing and virtue signaling WILL NOT fight CP. They’ve already lost that war.
First, possessing CP or CSAM is not “child predator”. Studies show that viewing pornography of any type does not lead to hands on offenses. Second, when will society focus on prevention? First offense possession should lead to a deferred sentence and no registration with successful completion of approved Minor Attracted Counseling, 3-6 months. This works better than chest-beating about tougher sentences.