Recent disclosures under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed a troubling trend that raises significant concerns about public safety in South Carolina. It appears that Attorney General Alan Wilson (R) has largely neglected to prosecute child pornography and sexual exploitation cases in Dorchester County.
According to internal documents scrutinized by Rep. Nancy Mace, from 2019 through 2022, Wilson’s office managed a total of 385 warrants relating to child pornography cases. Alarmingly, only 29 of these cases culminated in convictions.
This amounts to a dismal conviction rate of just 7.5%, leaving 356 cases dismissed outright and not a single case going to trial.
“The FOIA documents we obtained reveal that Attorney General Alan Wilson has failed to protect our children from predators in Dorchester County,” Rep. Nancy Mace stated emphatically on X.
“Nearly all child predator cases under Wilson’s supervision have been dismissed or dropped. WE WANT ANSWERS. NOW,” she insisted.
Key Findings from the FOIA Release:
- 385 child exploitation cases overseen by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office since 2019
- 356 cases dismissed outright
- 0 trials held — not a single one taken before a jury
- 29 convictions (7.5% conviction rate)
- 324 pending cases, averaging 740 days without resolution
- Most defendants currently out on bond and residing in local communities
A report from First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe paints a bleak picture of the AG’s office, highlighting a troubling pattern of negligence and leniency:
The facts indicate that since January 1, 2019, of the 385 child exploitation warrants dealt with by the SCAG, only 29 led to convictions—a mere 7.5%—while the remaining 356 were dismissed. This high dismissal rate likely explains why over 90% of those guilty of child pornography received suspended sentences.
Among the few convictions secured, merely 2 defendants served active time; most received probation or time served. Specifically, 31 of the 33 defendants involved had either their charges dismissed or ended up with a suspended sentence.
Significantly, this lenient stance towards child exploitation cases cannot be blamed on judicial lenience as not one has reached a jury trial—all were the result of negotiations by the SCAG.
Currently, 324 cases are pending in Dorchester County, with an average age of 740 days and on the rise. This backlog constitutes 9.5% of the entire General Sessions docket in the county.
This situation is untenable, especially considering the AG’s office has not prosecuted any child pornography cases, while most defendants roam free in the community.
The data, primarily drawn from the 2022–2023 budget request by the First Circuit Solicitor, clearly indicates that law enforcement agencies in the First Judicial Circuit have lost faith in the Attorney General’s Office due to its chronic inefficiency in handling child exploitation cases and its excessively lenient plea agreements.
In response to these shortcomings, the First Circuit Solicitor’s Office is now seeking an additional $150,000 to establish a dedicated unit for prosecuting child pornography, distinct from its usual operations.
“This data is both appalling and inexcusable,” Congresswoman Mace declared in a statement. “When nearly every child predator assessment is dismissed and most convictions result in a mere slap on the wrist, it becomes an affront to justice and a direct threat to the children of Lowcountry.”
Mace added, “The Attorney General has a solemn responsibility to protect our most vulnerable citizens: our children. Instead, he is failing in this duty, leaving local prosecutors to clean up the aftermath.”
JUST IN: We obtained FOIA documents indicating South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson failed to prosecute p*dophiles in Dorchester County.
Nearly every single child predator case under Wilson’s oversight in Dorchester County has been dismissed or dropped.
WE WANT ANSWERS. NOW. pic.twitter.com/yz5ihTqhCe
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) October 6, 2025
The Gateway Pundit has sought comment from Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office.
Following Rep. Nancy Mace’s exposure of the documents on X, Wilson’s office countered, labeling her statements as “deceptive.”
According to Wilson’s office, data shared with News 4 indicates that from 2019, in Dorchester County, 42 cases resulted in 30 pleas, eight dismissals, three cases taken up by federal law enforcement, and one case closed due to the offender’s death. The spokesperson noted that each case might involve multiple charges.
“This is yet another instance of the Congresswoman misrepresenting the office and the criminal justice system,” stated Wilson’s office. “The office enforces the laws, the legislators create them, and judges pass verdicts.”
When examining cases back to 2014, Dorchester County recorded 83 prosecutions, with the following breakdown:
- 61 guilty pleas and trials
- 15 dismissals (due to insufficient evidence, prosecutorial discretion, or bench warrant)
- 4 cases adopted federally
- 2 dismissed due to offender death
- 1 transferred to probate
“The diligent law enforcement personnel, ICAC prosecutors, and ultimately the victims shouldn’t be exploited in a political smear campaign,” Wilson’s office added. “The Attorney General’s Office will not engage in her clearly politicized rhetoric.”
