Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigators received a lead 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 and/or electronic devices by an unknown subject in Beaufort County.
Further investigation substantiated the lead and revealed that the child sexual abuse imagery had been uploaded by 42-year-old Phillip Martin Jr. of 42 Brindlewood Drive on Lady’s Island.
Based on this information, Sheriff’s Office investigators obtained a warrant from a Beaufort County magistrate to search the Brindlewood Drive residence to locate and seize the computers and/or electronic devices used to upload the child sexual abuse imagery.
Investigators also obtained warrants from the magistrate for the arrest of Martin Jr. for two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor 2nd Degree and two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor 3rd Degree.
Arrest of Subject and Service of Search Warrant
On the morning July 15, 2021, Sheriff’s Office investigators served the search warrant at 42 Brindlewood Drive.
At the time the search warrant was served, Martin Jr. was at home and taken into custody for the four warrants without incident.
Martin Jr. was transported to the Beaufort County Detention Center and booked on the charges. He has yet to receive a bond hearing and, as of the time of this advisory, remains incarcerated.
During the search of Martin Jr.’s residence, investigators seized numerous electronic devices.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will conduct forensic examinations on the seized devices. Those examinations may result in additional criminal charges.
In addition, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will prosecute Martin Jr. for all charges stemming from this ICAC investigation.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office appreciates your partnership in the safety of our community.
