Seneca Man Charged with Ten Counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – 2nd Degree

Carl Lee Robert Price

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A Seneca man arrested recently on a Sex Offender Registry Violation charge, and a charge of Grand Larceny, was also charged last week by Investigators from the Oconee County Sheriff's Office with ten counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – 2nd Degree.

36 year old Carl Lee Robert Price was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 10:15am on Tuesday, July 9th after his arrest, on the same day, in Union County, SC by officers assigned to the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force.  Price was then transported to the Oconee County Detention Center.

Price was released from jail on bond and turned over to the custody of Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

During a follow-up on May 30th of this year in regards to a separate investigation in Oconee County which was turned over to the FBI, the Sex Offender Registrar from the Sheriff's Office discovered that Price had not registered either a vehicle he was operating or any employment information within the timeframe as prescribed under South Carolina law for those who have been assigned to the Sex Offender Registry. 

Further investigation revealed that Price was not residing at his address that was listed with the Sex Offender Registrar’s Office.  The vehicle owner also informed the Deputy that Price had taken a white 2010 Ford Fusion and left the residence.  The vehicle was discovered in Price’s possession upon his arrest in Union County.

Still further investigation by the Criminal Investigations Bureau of the Sheriff’s Office revealed that Price had possessed and distributed sexually explicit images of minors on electronic devices in his possession, which were discovered as a result of a search warrant.  Based upon the evidence obtained, an Investigator obtained the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor arrest warrants against Price.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.