Upstate man admits to rape, charged with other child sex crimes
FOUNTAIN INN, SC (FOX Carolina) – Federal investigators said an Upstate man has been federally charged after communicating with an Arkansas man about alleged child sex crimes.
According to a federal complaint, an Arkansas sheriff’s office and Arkansas Probation and Parole made a home visit to a man on Nov. 22 because a cyber tip alleged he was distributing child sexual abuse material.
Officials said when they searched the man’s phone, they found a conversation he had with someone via Snapchat.
Federal investigators said they identified that Snapchat user as Tyshaun Jerome Smith, who lives in Fountain Inn.
The complaint alleges that Smith and the Arkansas man discussed their preference for minors.
Investigators said Smith told the Arkansas man that he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl and sent the man multiple sexually explicit videos of minors, two of which showed what was believed to be a 14-year-old and the third showed what was believed to be a 14-year-old birthday. 12 years old.
Officials said Smith was charged with possession and access with intent to view a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, transportation of child pornography and receipt or distribution of child pornography.
According to the complaint, the Arkansas man and Smith also discussed rape in the messages. The complaint alleges that Smith told the man that he had previously raped a child and that he planned to assault the child again in the near future. The complaint alleges that Smith told the man he would send him videos of the alleged assault. A spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service told FOX Carolina that these statements are still being investigated.
Smith was given a $25,000 unsecured bond and has been released.
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