A Pelion man is accused of distributing child sexual abuse material.

The state Attorney General’s Office announced the arrest of William Franz McBride, Jr., 33, who is charged with two counts of second degree sexual exploitation of a minor, stating that the arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigators and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators with the Attorney General’s Office, which is part of the task force, assisted in the investigation.

“Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led them to Mcbride,” the release states. 

McBride was arrested Dec. 14. The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case.

Second degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison for each count.

“Child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, is a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes,” the release clarifies. "’Pornography’ can imply the child was a consenting participant. Globally, the term child pornography is being replaced by CSAM for this reason.”

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.