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Proudly serving the residents and visitors of Beaufort County, South Carolina

For emergencies, call 9-1-1

Bluffton man arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor 2nd Degree

Timothy Sheaffer mugshot
Timothy Sheaffer

ICAC investigation in Bluffton

Over the past few months, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigators followed up on leads received from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) initiative of child sexual abuse imagery being uploaded to the internet from computers/electronic devices by an unknown subject in Bluffton.

The investigation revealed that the child sexual abuse imagery in question had been uploaded by 32-year-old Timothy Sheaffer at 153 Heritage Pkwy., Bluffton.

Based on this information, investigators obtained warrants from a Beaufort County magistrate for Sheaffer’s arrest for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor 2nd Degree and to search his home for computers/electronic devices used to upload the child sexual abuse imagery.

Arrest of Timothy Sheaffer

This morning, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, investigators arrested Sheaffer at his Bluffton home without incident.

Sheaffer was transported to the Beaufort County Detention Center and incarcerated.

Sheaffer has yet to receive a bond hearing on the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor 2nd Degree charge.

Search Warrant

Following Sheaffer’s arrest, investigators searched his home and seized multiple computers/electronic devices.

In-depth forensic examinations of the computers/electronic devices seized from Sheaffer’s home will be conducted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and may lead to additional criminal charges.

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will prosecute Sheaffer for all criminal charges stemming from this ICAC investigation.

Anyone who has information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Sergeant Jennifer Snider at 843-255-3421 or Crimestoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111, if wishing to remain anonymous and for possible reward.