The mayor-elect of Dillon, South Carolina has been arrested on eleven counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
Actually, ten minors – ranging in age from 15-17 at the time the offenses in question allegedly took place.
Corey Jackson was supposed to take office later this month after he defeated Tally McColl in an April 16 runoff election to determine who would lead this town of roughly 6,500 people just south of the North Carolina border.
Those plans are now in disarray …
Late last month, it was revealed Jackson was the subject of an investigation led by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) – news exclusively reported by Tonya Brown of WPDE TV 15 (ABC – Florence/ Myrtle Beach, S.C.).
This week, Brown got the scoop again in breaking the news of Jackson’s arrest.
According to probable cause affidavits accompanying the eleven warrants for Jackson’s arrest, the incoming mayor used a photo-sharing app on his phone to solicit nude images from at least ten underage males – offering and in some cases paying them cash for these illicit images.
Some of the warrants address exploitation that allegedly took place as recently as two weeks ago.
To wit: On April 24 of this year, Jackson allegedly solicited an unnamed 17-year-old male using the SnapChat app – asking the alleged victim to “send (him) a sexually explicit nude photograph in exchange for money.”
Jackson sent the unnamed victim “sexually explicit nude female photographs and encouraged (him) by offering him $100 in exchange for a photograph of his penis,” according to the affidavit.
Numerous other probable cause affidavits relate similar allegations, an alleged pattern of behavior that dates back nearly two years.
One affidavit accuses Jackson of offering another victim $300 for a photograph of his penis – a transaction with was allegedly completed last fall (although the alleged victim wound up sending him “a photograph of a nude penis he obtained from the internet”).
In another alleged incident said to have occurred last spring, Jackson is accused of offering another victim $500 for a photograph of his penis. Once again, the alleged victim ended up sending him “a photograph of a nude penis he obtained from the internet” instead. That transaction was also completed, authorities say.
In yet another alleged incident – said to have occurred last July – Jackson reportedly offered $1,000 for a similar photograph, although the alleged victim (who was 16 years old at the time) declined to provide one.
[su_dominion_video_scb]Two of Jackson’s alleged victims did send an explicit photographs, according to law enforcement.
On April 9, 2019, a 17-year-old victim sent Jackson a “photograph of himself wearing underwear (and) partially sexually stimulated” in exchange for $150 allegedly paid via the Cash app, according to one of the probable cause affidavits.
On April 23, 2019, the same alleged victim sent Jackson “a photograph of himself nude with a sexually stimulated penis” in exchange for $300 which was also allegedly paid via the Cash app, according to another affidavit.
The affidavits detail alleged sexual exploitation dating back to June 1, 2017.
Meanwhile, one alleged incident took place on Christmas Day, 2018. In that instance, Jackson is accused of sending a 15-year-old male victim “two sexually explicit photographs of a naked female” and then offering to send the boy $600 “in exchange for a photograph of his penis.”
Also last December, Jackson allegedly offered to pay $100 in exchange for a photograph of another underage male’s penis, according to a probable cause affidavit. The male victim took a picture of another underage male’s penis, police say, and sent that photo to Jackson.
The $100 payment was allegedly collected from Jackson on February 22, 2019, at which point police say he offered $500 to the alleged victim “for more nude photographs.”
According to S.C. Code of Laws § 16-15-395, first degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a felony punishable by a minimum of three years in prison – with possible prison terms of up to 20 years permitted.
“No part of the minimum sentence of imprisonment may be suspended nor is the individual convicted eligible for parole until he has served the minimum term of imprisonment,” the code section states. “Sentences imposed pursuant to this section must run consecutively with and commence at the expiration of another sentence being served by the person sentenced.”
In other words, Jackson is looking at 33 years behind bars … at least.
The mayor-elect was booked at the Dillon County detention center. His case will be prosecuted by the office of S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson.
As with anyone accused of committing any crime, Jackson is considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system – or until such time as he may wish to enter a plea in connection with any of the charges filed against him.
Developing …
-FITSNews
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