Edward Kestler Arrested for Trying to Meet Minor

A 29-year-old Bluffton man was arrested earlier this week after driving about three hours in the hope of having sex with an underage girl he met on the Internet, according to investigators.

Edward Joseph Kestler of Baywood Drive was arrested Monday by the Lexington County Sheriff's Department and charged with one count of criminal solicitation of a minor and one count of attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Investigators say Kestler solicited sex from an undercover Lexington County Sheriff's deputy who posed an as underage girl on the Internet. The deputy was undergoing Internet predator training from S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster's office, according to a news release Friday from the office.

The Lexington County Sheriff's department is part of McMaster's 50-agency Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Kestler arranged to meet the girl at a predetermined location in Lexington County and was arrested by Lexington County Sheriff's deputies and officers from the Town of Chapin Police Department. Police searched Kestler's vehicle and recovered a laptop computer and a removable drive as evidence, according to authorities.

The age of the girl Kestler believed he was meeting was redacted by police from arrest warrants. He was charged with second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor, which the state defines as sexual battery against someone between 11 and 14 years old.

Kestler was released Wednesday from the Lexington County Detention Center on $50,000 bond, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.

He faces 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted. The attorney general's office will prosecute Kestler's case.

An April 2007 arrest for assault and battery is Kestler's only prior arrest in Beaufort County, according to the county's online jail log.

Kestler's arrest was the 178th for the task force, which was created in April 2004 to develop a network of state and local agencies to investigate and prosecute Internet child sexual exploitation.

"We know that we have put a dent in this problem just by the sheer number of arrests we've made," said Mark Plowden, spokesman for the attorney general's office. "But we know that for every one that we catch, there are hundreds out there. There is never any loss of perverts on the Internet looking for children. It's a tremendous problem."
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More Information:
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Officer Jeffrey Gibson Arrested for Sexual Conduct with Minor

A former law enforcement officer is out on bond after his arrest on charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Jeffrey Gibson, 41, of 1307 Tyler Road, Dillon, was arrested Tuesday after a 12-year-old told authorities he touched her inappropriately while the two were “playfighting,” according to a Dillon Police Department incident report.

The victim told police Gibson “threw her on the couch and inappropriately touched her in one of her private areas,” according to the report. The victim said Gibson had touched her inappropriately several times in the past two months or so.

The victim was placed in the custody of the S.C. Department of Social Services, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Gibson served as an officer with the Dillon Police Department about 10 years ago and worked in law enforcement in Marion County, as well.

Christopher Jason Elrod Charged with Killing His Daughter

A man charged with homicide by child abuse has been denied bond.

Christopher Jason Elrod, 30, had his first appearance in Lexington County Bond Court, Saturday afternoon. According to Lexington County Detention Center officials, he was denied bond and future court dates are pending. He is still being detained at the Lexington County Detention Center.

Elrod was arrested Friday by Lexington County Sheriff's Deputies who say he killed his daughter by suffocation. He's been charged with homicide by child abuse.

The arrest came at the end of a joint investigation by the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, the Lexington County Coroner's office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

The warrant against him states that on December 7, 2008, Elrod held his daughter, Calen Elrod, tightly against his body. Deputies say his actions obstructed the girl's ability to breath, and the coroner's office determined she died from suffocation.

Deputies say on Friday, they conducted an interview with Elrod that allowed them to get information that helped establish probable cause in the case, allowing them to formally charge Elrod.

Todd Richardson Charged with Sexual Assault

A Duncan man has been jailed on a charge that he sexually assaulted an underage girl, including once while he was with her family on Lake Hartwell, authorities said.

Todd Richardson, 33, is charged in a warrant with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 11 years old.

A Spartanburg County sheriff's deputy said in an incident report that he went to the girl's home last week and spoke to her mother.

The mother told the deputy that her daughter said there had been two incidents -- once at the lake and once at Richard's home, the deputy wrote.

Richardson, who lives at 342 Dobson Road, was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Facility on Tuesday, according to a warrant and jail records.
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Eddie Richardson Charged with Having Sex with Child

A Wake County faces charges of having sex with a child and molesting two others.

Police said Eddie Richardson, 55, performed sex acts on three different children between the ages of 7 and 12-years-old.

Police said the offenses happened over a span of several years dating back to 2001.

Richardson was arrested on Friday and was being held Saturday afternoon under a $825,000 bond.

Michael Christopher Arrested for Child Porn

Cumberland County sheriff's detectives found child pornography on the computer of a Fort Bragg soldier. They arrested Michael Christopher Skeen, 21, of H-6262 Kendenburg St., Friday.

Skeen's home computer contained photos and videos of children engaging in sexual acts with adults, detectives said. They said Skeen is suspected of downloading the images Nov. 12, 2008, and July 15, 2009.

Skeen is charged with five counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. He was being held in the Cumberland County Detention Center under $125,000 bond.

Roy Ray Bennett Arrested for Child Porn

A Hanahan man has been arrested by the S.C. Law Enforcement Division during a child pornography investigation.

Roy Ray Bennett, 68, of 2 Lombardi Lane, Hanahan, is charged with second degree sexual exploitation of a minor, SLED said.

According to an arrest warrant, Bennett had visual materials depicting minors engaged in sexual activity on a computer at his home, SLED said.

SLED said Bennett is accused of downloading and disseminating the pornographic images through the use of the internet.

With a search warrant, agents confiscated electronic media from Bennett’s home during an undercover operation, according to SLED.

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and Hanahan Police Department assisted with this investigation.

Second degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a felony offense punishable up to 10 years in prison, SLED said. .

Molly & Scott McCurry Sentenced to 20 Years for Child Abuse

SPARTANBURG, S.C.

Molly and Scott McCurry, a Spartanburg couple accused of abusing three boys in their care, received a 20-year prison sentence Thursday afternoon.

Both were convicted of three counts of child abuse and three charges of unlawful conduct toward a child.

The jury received the case around 12:30 p.m. Thursday and returned the guilty verdict shortly after 3:00 p.m.

After the verdict was announced, Scott McCurry's lawyer requested for the jury to be polled, and each juror said "guilty."

Less than an hour later, the judge asked the McCurrys if they wanted to speak before he decided on a sentence. Both declined to say anything. Their attorneys asked for leniency.

The judge sentenced the couple to the maximum of 20 years for the child abuse charges and 10 years for the other charges. However, those sentences will run concurrently, meaning they will spend only a maximum of 20 years behind bars.

"I don't think they'll survive, if you want my opinion," said Debra Justice, the victims' aunt.

News 4's Mike McCormick reported Scott McCurry's family seemed visibly upset in the courtroom.

The victim's relatives said the couple "got what was coming to them," and they were grateful for the verdict and sentence.

The neighbors who reported the abuse, Tammy and William Lister, were also in the courtroom for the sentencing.

"We're so happy for them. We hope they get some justice. We hope they get a family that will treat them and love them like they should be loved and deserve. They really deserve it," Tammy Lister said.

Susan Reese, the assistant solicitor, said she is "just very happy it's over. Very happy for them boys and just very happy the judge gave them the sentence he did."

The McCurrys must serve 85 percent of their sentence before they are eligible for parole.

Both of the McCurrys asked for a new trial, but the judge refused.

They have 10 days to appeal the decision.

Thursday's Testimony


The McCurrys had one last chance to talk to the jury Thursday morning. Scott McCurry testified that he found evidence of Molly McCurry smoking crack about three months before they were arrested. Molly McCurry then took the stand to deny that, and said she passed a drug test after the arrest. After that, closing arguments began.

Molly McCurry's attorney cast doubt on Scott McCurry.

"Her mother overheard Scott making threats against Molly," the attorney said.

Scott McCurry's attorney cast doubt on Molly McCurry.

"So the woman who told you that she didn't tie the kids up -- 'It was Scott' -- that she didn't beat the kids -- 'It was Scott' -- that she didn't make them stand in the corner -- 'It was Scott' -- she's the same woman who told you, 'He bought milk. He bought cereal. He bought Pop Tarts. He bought lunch meat.' He bought those things," said defense attorney Doug Brannon.

The assistant solicitor cast blame on them both.

"The truth is, ladies and gentlemen, that these boys were being starved, and they were being starved around the clock, and it took two people to do this," said Assistant Solicitor Susan Reese.

The defense for both of the McCurrys called for a retrial. Both were denied.

Couple Arrested In 2006


The McCurrys were arrested after deputies found the boys in their Holly Springs home “extremely thin and weak” and "literally skin and bones,” according to the arrest warrant.

The boys were taken into protective custody after they were found to be severely malnourished, burned and bruised.

Spartanburg County Deputy Len Burgess was the first officer to arrive at the home. Burgess said the McCurrys told him that the whole family had a stomach virus and was losing weight.

A doctor who treated the boys at the hospital testified that their conditions were not caused by a virus, but were the result of chronic malnourishment, starvation and neglect.

A former Wellford police officer who also went to the McCurry home that day testified that all three of the boys had visible lice in their hair.

One of the boys, who is 10 years old now, testified on Tuesday and told the court that, at first, he liked living with the McCurrys. Then, he testified, “everything changed.”

He said he was tied up at night to his bunk bed and was not untied until morning. He said that, if he had to use the bathroom, he had to use it in the bunk bed.

Molly and Dennis Scott McCurry have separate attorneys. The attorney for Molly McCurry indicated in opening arguments that the couple was poor. The attorney for Dennis Scott McCurry indicated that he made a good salary, but that someone else had squandered the money.

On Wednesday, both Scott and Molly McCurry testified in the case along with their biological daughter.

Molly McCurry's Testimony

Molly McCurry said she never starved or harmed the three boys, who were ages 5, 7 and 9 when their aunt and her husband, Dennis Scott McCurry were arrested in 2006. The McCurrys were legal guardians of the boys.

Molly McCurry said Wednesday that she fed the boys three small meals a day and some snacks after the Department of Social Services told her to cut back on their food. She said DSS told her that the boys were "known to eat out of the trash" and would eat themselves sick.

"I fed them breakfast, usually a bowl of cereal or Pop Tarts in the morning," Molly McCurry said. "Then lunchtime, since the refrigerator was messed up, I gave them like two bologna sandwiches or two ham sandwiches, whatever meat we had that we went and bought."

She admitted that the boys had been tied up, but said she and her husband tied them up because it was the only way that she could keep the older boys from sexually assaulting the 5-year-old.

She testified that she and her husband took turns staying awake at night to try to prevent the boys from sexually abusing each other. She said, when they were unable to stay awake, they tied the boys up.

Molly McCurry testified that her husband had once broken her arm when she tried to stop him from beating one of the boys. She said she had previously lied and said she broke her arm in a fall.

She also said that Scott McCurry punished the boys by making them stand while wearing backpacks filled with either cat litter or bottles of bleach.

After pictures were shown of the boys in court, the assistant solicitor asked McCurry if she should have taken the youngest boy to see a doctor. McCurry answered, "Yes, ma'am."

The McCurry's 13-year-old biological daughter also took the stand on Wednesday. She testified that she lived in the same house with the boys at the time of the alleged abuse.

The 13-year-old said that she saw her father spank the boys with a belt and saw her mother tie them up. She also said she remembered a time when the family got food and the boys were then made to stand and look the other way while she and her parents ate.

She said that she would wait until her parents were asleep and would sneak food in to the boys.

Scott McCurry's Testimony

Last to take the stand on Wednesday was Dennis Scott McCurry.

He and his ex-wife said little to defend each other throughout the trial.

Scott McCurry couldn't account for how the food he bought did not wind up filling the stomachs of the boys at his home.

Some of his credibility, especially about his work record, was called into question during cross examination.

He also addressed some of the accusations against him from his ex-wife and daughter. He denied making the boys stand with heavy book bags and he also said he never forced the boys to stand and watch while the rest of the family ate.

But he was at a loss to explain how the faces of the boys became images that brought tears to the people in the courtroom who saw them.

Solicitor: “But you told Tracy Moss they looked fine to you. “

Scott McCurry: “Yes. And I know those pictures knocked me for a loop.”

Solicitor: “So this little boy looks fine to you?”

Scott McCurry: “No. “

Solicitor: “He didn't look fine to you?”

Scott McCurry: “No. Not in that picture he does not.”

Solicitor: “Well, this picture was taken in your house.”

Scott McCurry: “I know.“

Solicitor: “Every night you saw these kids.”

Scott McCurry: “I can not explain that. I really can't. I blame myself for that.”
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Previous Stories: July 22, 2009: Witnesses Emotional In Child Starvation Trial

Thomas Whittaker Convicted of Sexually Assaulting 2 Sisters

A Lexington County man was convicted of seven counts of criminal sexual conduct on a minor after he sexually assaulted two young sisters, aged 8 and 10.

Investigators say 49-year-old Thomas Whittaker of Sandy Spring Lane in Lexington first abused the girls when he worked as a maintenance man at an apartment complex.

In one of the incidents, Lexington deputies say the father of the children walked into Whittaker's bedroom to find the 49-year-old sexually assaulting the younger child.

"He gave these girls a lifetime of horrible memories and stole their innocence," said Assistant Solicitor Debra Moore.

The victims were aged 5 and 6 when Whittaker began his sexual assaults on them. The children's family moved away to Missouri for about a year, but while there, Whittaker visited the family twice.

That's when investigators say he assaulted both children during both visits. After that, Whittaker invited the children's family to live with him in his South Carolina home, rent-free.

According to a news release from the solicitor's office, Whittaker told the children that if they told anyone of the assaults, they would be homeless because their parents had no money to buy a house, and the 49-year-old would be put in jail.

After the children's father discovered the suspect assaulting the children, the other child told her parents about the series of assaults. Investigators say Whittaker confessed to them that he had molested only one of the sisters.

Two cousins of the victims, who also lived in the apartment complex, told investigators that Whittaker had molested them as well.

Ricky Blackwell in Court for Shooting 8-year-old Girl in Head

Ricky Blackwell is due in court on Thursday morning for his arraignment. A judge will read the charges against Blackwell to make sure he understands them and how the criminal justice system will handle his case.

Blackwell’s estranged wife is dating Brooke Center’s father. Investigators said Blackwell grabbed the girl and shot her four times right in front of his wife.

Angela Blackwell did not want to go on camera but gave a statement about her husband being taken to jail. “I hope they keep him there for the rest of his life. He killed an innocent little girl. brooke was the sweetest girl in the world. And he smiled at me when he did it”, she wrote.

**Wednesday 1:35pm Update**

Angela Blackwell, the estranged wife of the suspect spoke with News Channel 7 Wednesday in an interview and said “I hope they keep him there for the rest of his life. He killed an innocent little girl. Brooke was the sweetest girl in the world. And he smiled at me when he did it.“

**Wednesday 1:15pm Update**

Ricky Lee Blackwell said nothing as he was taken into the Spartanburg County Jail. Blackwell was wearing a bullet proof vest. The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office says he wore the vest because of the nature of the crime. Blackwell is scheduled to be arraigned 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning.

**Wednesday 9:40am Update**

The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office expects Ricky Lee Blackwell will be released from Spartanburg Regional Medical Center Wednesday.

Public Information Officer Tony Ivey expects Blackwell will have his arraignment Wednesday afternoon.

Reporting by Chris Cato, Rob Landreth

**Monday 10:30am Update**

Ricky Lee Blackwell is still a patient at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center on Monday.

Tony Ivey, Public Information Officer for the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, says doctors feel it may be later in the week before Blackwell may be released from the hospital.

Funeral services for a eight year old girl tragically shot and killed Wednesday was held Sunday afternoon in Duncan.

More than 500 bikers showed up to the funeral for Heather Brooke Center. “You look around look at the bikes that are here the love and passion of motorcyclists,“ Ira Barrett with Black Stallion Motorcycle Hearse said.

Rolling Thunder will be escorting the Black Stallion Motorcycle Hearse, which will be carrying Center’s body “The little girl loved riding bikes,“ Mike Dalton with Rolling Thunder said. “To give her one last going away present, her last ride, what better way to do it?“ “She is looking down and smiling from ear to ear,“ Ira Barrett said.

Investigators with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged Rickey Lee Blackwell with first-degree murder after they say he went to a home on Ridings Road and shot Center four times during a domestic dispute. Blackwell then shot himself and is currently hospitalized and expected to survive. Solicitor Trey Gowdy says they will seek the death penalty against Blackwell.

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Other Information: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,532847,00.html

Crackdown on Child Porn in South Carolina

Law enforcement officials across South Carolina continue to announce arrests of people charged with crimes related to child pornography.

In June, authorities arrested an elementary school teacher, accusing him of possessing child pornography. The 46-year-old man was released from Union County Jail on $30,000 bond after being charged with second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Law enforcement officials stated that he used a file-sharing network on his home computer. Using that network, he allegedly received, sold or purchased materials depicting minors in sexual activities.

Sheriff’s deputy charged
Earlier this year, a Spartanburg County deputy was fired from his job after admitting he viewed child pornography. The man’s estranged wife gave authorities a computer disk with 40 pornographic images of children taken from his computer.

The deputy had worked for the sheriff’s office for seven years. The sheriff turned the materials over to state agents for possible criminal charges.

Sass Drive man faces felony charge
A 61-year-old Sass Drive man is also charged with second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Authorities seized a computer disk containing images of children engaged in sexual activity from his residence. Investigators said he was also suspected of uploading pornography to the Internet.

South Carolina man arrested in Arkansas
A South Carolina man was arrested in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for allegedly viewing images of a nude 15-year-old girl on his cell phone.

The 22-year-old Greenville resident faces felony charges of distributing, possessing and viewing child pornography.

The girl’s mother contacted police after she said her daughter received sexually explicit messages on her phone. After investigators inspected the suspect’s MySpace account, they subpoenaed his Internet service provider and determined his identity.

According to the arrest warrant, he had sent the minor girl photos of his genitals via text messaging. She then sent the photos of herself to him.

South Carolina law
Second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor occurs when an adult “records, photographs, films, develops, duplicates, produces, or creates digital electronic file material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity; or distributes, transports, exhibits, receives, sells, purchases, exchanges or solicits material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity.”

A conviction of this felony charge carries a sentence of not less than two years and not more than 10 years in prison. The minimum sentence must be served in its entirety before the prisoner can be released.

Michael Elders Arrested for Sexual Battery on 10-year-old

A Cayce man has been arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct involving a 10-year-old child.

Michael Ray Elders, 45, of Congaree Drive, was arrested at his home, accused by the Cayce Department of Public Safety of engaging in sexual battery with the child.

The child's gender and relationship with Elders are being withheld to protect the child's identity.
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Additional Charged filed Against Barry Leonard Brown

Florence County Sheriff’s Office investigators have filed an additional charge against a Florence man already facing a charge of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a release from the department.

Barry Leonard Brown, initially arrested June 27 on a family court bench warrant, has now been charged with criminal sexual conduct, first degree, with a minor under the age of 11 years.

According to the release, Brown, 34, of 3639 E . Palmetto St . , Lot-14, Florence, is “alleged to have engaged in the sexual battery of a minor entrusted to his care over a period of time.”

The previous charge alleges Brown “possessed multiple files on his personal computer containing video and still photographic images of children performing various sex acts.”

Brown, already in custody at the Florence County Detention Center, remains detained there waiting for bond to be set on the most recent charge.
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http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=10656404

Youth Minister William Wilson Arrested on Lewd Act with Child

A former church youth minister has been arrested and charged with sex crimes involving three people.

Multiple media outlets reported that 30-year-old William Ralph Wilson of Gaston was arrested Thursday on four charges.

Lexington County sheriff's deputies charged Wilson with two counts of committing a lewd act on a minor and two counts of exposing minors to sexually explicit materials.

Wilson is the former youth minister at Chapel of Redemption Church in West Columbia.

Three victims made complaints about Wilson to the department this week.

Wilson was being held at the Lexington County jail. It was unclear if he had an attorney.

Jord Jordon IV Guilty of Possession of Child Porn

A York man pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography last week in federal court.

Jord Jordan IV, 26, of York will be sentenced at a later date, according to a press release issued by United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Evidence showed that Jordan paid for access to Web sites that sold images of child pornography, according to the release. In October 2008, Jordan admitted to federal law enforcement agents that he paid for and accessed these Web sites, the release states.

Investigators found numerous child pornography pictures and five videos, according to the release.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

The program uses local, state and federal resources to prosecute individuals who exploit children over the internet, the release states. For more information, visit projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was investigated by agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Samuel Worley Jr Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Minor

The State Law Enforcement Division said that a Union County Elementary School teacher downloaded child pornography on his computer.

Authorities said that 46-year-old Samuel Worley Jr. used a file sharing service to download and disseminate sexually explicit materials of minors on his computer at home.

SLED said that agents confiscated Worley’s computer during an undercover investigation.

Worley was charged with second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
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Information: http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/local/article/union_county_teacher_charged_with_child_porn/20131/