Johns Island man charged with more than five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man after serving a search warrant at his home.

James Francis Halpin, 77, is charged with six counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to spokesperson Lexi Douglas.

The South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a cyber tip that led to the arrest at his home on July 18.

Several devices were taken to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, including a Toshivla 1TB hard drive.

The hard drive revealed multiple files depicting minors engaged in sexual activity or appearing in a state of sexually explicit nudity.

One file in particular depicted a female child between the ages of 12 and 14. The child sat and lifted one of her legs toward the camera and was wearing nothing but a pair of yellow, thigh-high stockings, Detective J. Jacko said.

Haplin was booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center.

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