Lancaster Teen Arrested on Felony Child Exploitation Charges

An 18-year-old Lancaster man faces up to 30 years in prison following his arrest on multiple felony charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, state officials announced.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson stated that Kenneth Wayne Bailey was taken into custody on June 12, 2026. The arrest was executed by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators within the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Attorney General’s Office.

The investigation began after authorities received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. According to investigators, the tip led them to Bailey, who is accused of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material.

Bailey has been charged with two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. All three charges are felony offenses under South Carolina law, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment.