Nearly a dozen suspects, most of them from the Upstate have been charged after an undercover online operation. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office launched Operation Hightower to expose sexual predators looking to prey on children.
The Sheriff's Office says detectives posed as young children in the operation. 11 men were arrested, 9 of them from the Upstate. Investigators report that four of them were willing to travel to meet what they thought was a child, but were instead met by deputies.
One suspect 40 year old, Jeffrey Miles of Mississippi allegedly agreed to meet a mother and her four year old daughter. He is accused of agreeing to pay the woman to sexually assault the child. The other suspect arrested was from North Carolina.
The group faces charges ranging from sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor, criminal solicitation of a minor and other crimes.
The suspects and charges against them are below.
50 year old Donald Cutshaw of Greenville Criminal Solicitation of a Minor 2x Dissemination, Procuring or Promoting Obscenity 2x Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1st Degree
51 year old Timothy Dickson of Laurens, SC Criminal Solicitation of a Minor 5x Dissemination, Procuring or Promoting Obscenity Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree
30 year old Patrick Edwards of Saluda, NC Dissemination of Obscene Material Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1st Degree
Jerry Fraizer IV 27 years old, Anderson Criminal Solicitation of a Minor Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor or Attempt - 2nd Degree
Karl Green 42 years old, Seneca 5 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 2nd
Wilbur Harris 34 years old, Anderson Criminal Solicitation of a Minor Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor or Attempt, 2nd Degree
Kris Johnson 39 years old, Liberty Criminal Solicitation of a Minor Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor or Attempt, 2nd Degree
Timothy Torongeau 38 years old, Travelers Rest, SC Criminal Solicitation of a Minor
Jeffery Miles 40 years old, Louisville, MS - Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 2nd Degree
Victor Pressley 67 years old, Belton Criminal Solicitation of a Minor Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Person Under 18 Years of Age
Jeffery Smith 67 years old, Greer, SC two counts Prompting the Prostitution of a Minor Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor or Attempt, 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor or Attempt, 2nd Degree