A York man faces up to three decades in prison following his arrest this week on multiple felony charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, including the alleged production of artificial intelligence-generated material.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that 38-year-old Daniel Stuart Hammond was taken into custody on June 9, 2026. The arrest was executed by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the York County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from investigators with the Attorney General’s Office.
The investigation into Hammond began after authorities received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
According to investigators, the digital evidence linked to Hammond included the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Additionally, authorities state that Hammond used artificial intelligence technology to create fraudulent visual representations of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Hammond currently faces three separate felony charges under South Carolina law:
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Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Second Degree: A felony offense carrying a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
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Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Third Degree: A felony offense carrying a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
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Production of a Visual Depiction of a Minor Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct: A felony offense carrying a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
All three charges are being prosecuted in connection with the state’s broader ICAC Task Force initiative, which combines local, state, and federal resources to track and apprehend internet predators. Hammond remains processed under York County jurisdiction as the legal proceedings move forward.
