A man wanted by authorities in South Carolina faces child exploitation charges after he was arrested Oct. 31 in Columbus by U.S. Marshals and Lowndes County sheriff’s deputies.
Josfat Salomon Martinez, 42, also known as Miguel Sierra, is charged with two counts of exploitation of children.
A press release from the sheriff’s office said the investigation began when LCSO received a tip from a detective with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and a member of the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The detective reported that Martinez, who had four active arrest warrants in South Carolina for exploitation of a minor, had been tracked to Lowndes County.
LCSO deputies and members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force apprehended Martinez on Oct. 31 at a residence on Juanita Street in East Columbus.
Detectives found two cell phones during the investigation. After securing search warrants, detectives extracted the contents of the devices. Both phones contained images and videos of children being sexually battered by adults. Martinez, who was interviewed at LCSO, admitted the phones belonged to him, the press release said.
Sheriff Eddie Hawkins credited the arrest to collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies.
“Martinez was feeding the child exploitation pipeline by victimizing children over and over again each time he uploaded an image or video,” he said in the press release. “I am grateful for the hard work of our detectives and organizations like ICAC who vow to protect our children from sexual exploitation and abuse.”
The investigation into Martinez is ongoing, and more charges related to felony possession and distribution of child sex abuse material are possible, Hawkins said.
Martinez is being held at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.
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