Former Horry County Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 12, 2010 |
COLUMBIA, SC—Acting United States Attorney Kevin F. McDonald stated that David Courtney Childers, age 45, of Myrtle Beach, pled guilty in federal court to possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B). United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell accepted the plea and will sentence Childers at a later date.
In June 2008, FBI agents in Illinois conducted an undercover online investigation using the identification of a known child pornographer. Using “peer to peer” sharing software, the agents made contact with Childers, who was offering to share child pornography. Agents downloaded the child pornography, and traced the communication back to Childers’ computer at his Myrtle Beach residence. A search of Childers’ computer confirmed the presence of child pornography. At the time of the incident, Childers was employed as a police officer with Horry County.
Mr. McDonald stated the maximum penalty Childers can receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 10 years.
The case was investigated by agents of the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office handled the case.