An influencer with more than half a million followers has been charged with six offences in an alleged child sexual exploitation case.
Carson Dean Barry was arrested after police seized a computer tower and two iPhones during a search of his home, according to reports.
The 23-year-old, from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, is known for posting dance, lip-sync and relationship-themed videos.
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Barry has been charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree and one count of criminal solicitation of a minor.
Each charge is a felony carrying a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted, as reported by Need To Know.
He has approximately 150,000 followers on Instagram and another 420,000 on TikTok.
The investigation began after authorities received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Investigators allege that Barry solicited a minor for sex and possessed files containing child sexual abuse material.
Warrants obtained by local news, state that officers confiscated two phones and a computer tower from his property, as per ABC.
According to an affidavit cited by the broadcaster, investigators linked one of the phones to Barry through its associated iCloud and Gmail accounts.
Police allege that the devices contained child sexual abuse material and footage showing a minor being sexually assaulted by an adult man.
It was reported that officers allegedly discovered a 12-second video involving a girl believed to be aged between two and four.
There is no suggestion that Barry created the alleged footage or was the adult depicted in it.
He was arrested on 10 September and booked into the Al Cannon Detention Centre.
Barry was granted a total bond of $1 million – comprising $150,000 for each alleged sexual exploitation offence and $250,000 for the alleged solicitation offence.
He subsequently posted bond and was released from custody.
The social media personality began posting on TikTok in August 2022 and slowly built his following through viral videos focusing principally on dancing, lip-syncing and his relationships.
The arrest was made by Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigators from Mount Pleasant Police Department.
They were assisted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Summerville Police Department and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office will prosecute the case.
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