Attorney general’s office arrests WACH-TV reporter on three sexual exploitation charges…

A South Carolina sports reporter has been arrested and charged with three counts of sexually exploiting a minor, according to a news release from the office of the Palmetto State’s top prosecutor.

According to S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson, 28-year-old Matthew Turner Vereen – who covers sports for WACH TV-57 (FOX – Columbia, S.C.) – was arrested this week by agents of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force with support from the Columbia, S.C. police department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) special investigations unit (HSI).

“Investigators state Vereen distributed and possessed files of child sexual abuse material,” Wilson’s office noted in its release.

Child sex abuse materials (or “CSAM”) is another term for child pornography. According to ICAC, the term is “a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes.”

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Per Wilson’s release, Vereen was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree (§16-15-405) – a felony offense punishable by up to ten years imprisonment on each count – and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to ten years imprisonment.

As with anyone accused of committing any crime, Vereen is considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system – or until such time as he may wish to enter some form of allocution in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges filed against him.

Vereen’s WACH Fox bio indicates he grew up in Greenville, S.C., where he played soccer throughout high school prior to attending the University of Missouri journalism school. A former ESPN intern, Vereen previously reported at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Missouri and anchored at KOLR-TV in Springfield, Missouri.

Vereen’s bio also described him as a “supporter of local charities that help impoverished kids into sports.”

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Vereen’s case will be prosecuted by the attorney general’s office.

This is a developing story…

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Will Folks is the owner and founding editor of FITSNews. Prior to founding his own news outlet, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina, bass guitarist in an alternative rock band and bouncer at a Columbia, S.C. dive bar. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.

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Gamecock wide receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce has officially left the South Carolina football program, as confirmed by head coach Shane Beamer. The talented receiver he was “ rumored” to have been recently placed on the scout team, leading to his decision to depart from the team.

Huggins-Bruce transferred to South Carolina from Louisville this past January, but will never see game action for the Gamecocks. Rumors suggest that Huggins-Bruce may be returning to Louisville, where he spent the first three years of his college career.

During his time at Louisville, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound speedster was a key part of the Cardinals’ passing game, although some believed he was underutilized. In 39 games, including 12 starts, Huggins-Bruce recorded 80 receptions for 1,121 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also contributed on the ground with 11 rushes for 67 yards and an additional score.

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South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer hints at a new comer taking over the left tackle position for the Gamecocks.

While normally it takes a while for true freshmen to play in the SEC, there are a few players every year who are just too good to keep off the field. It seems the Gamecocks may have found one of those dudes.

On his call-in show, Coach Beamer talked about the left tackle position battle. While he didn’t drop a name on the show, it was pretty clear as to who he was talking about.

“Probably going to have a true freshman starting at left tackle,” Coach Beamer said on his call-in show.

While fellow freshman Kam Pringle is also battling for the spot, Josiah Thompson is the favorite to win the position ahead of Pringle, and sophomores Tree Badalade, and Cason Henry. Thompson has had a great summer and fall camp leading up to the season.

A four-star and the second ranked tackle in the 2024, Thompson is supremely talented with all the pysical traits it takes to be an elite left tackle in the SEC. His size (6-foot7 and 300+ pounds), length, and ability to go step for step with speed rushers will help him against great SEC caliber lineman.

South Carolina is less than 10 days away from taking on Old Dominion inside Williams-Brice Stadium. It won’t be long before several key battles will be settled with the first official depth chart coming next week.

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