Police | Child pornography nets prison time for Myrtle Beach man

Police

MYRTLE BEACH

Child pornography nets prison time

A 45-year-old Myrtle Beach man was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Florence for possession of child pornography, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney William N. Nettles.

U.S. District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced David Michael Childers to 42 months in prison and three years' supervised release, during which he is required to undergo sex offender treatment and submit to random polygraphs, Nettles said. Childers also is prohibited from any access to computers without approval from the U.S. Probation Office and is required to register as a sex offender.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing showed that Childers was discovered during an undercover operation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Springfield, Ill.

FBI agents went online in June 2008 using the identification of a known child pornographer and terms known to be used by child pornographers, Nettles said. The agents went on a publicly available program which allows "peer to peer" sharing of material when they discovered that Childers was offering to share child pornography.

CONWAY

Two convicted of ill treatment to animals

A Conway magistrate ordered two people to serve a day in jail after they were found guilty of ill treatment of animals after police took 46 dogs from two homes in Aynor.

Linda F. Cornelius, 52, of Fore Road in Aynor, was found guilty of two counts of ill treatment of animals, and Magistrate Brad Mayers gave her credit for the time she served in jail when she was arrested earlier this month, according to court records. But Mayers also ordered her to serve a day in jail.

Michael O. Fore, 23, also of Fore Road in Aynor, was found guilty of one count of ill treatment of animals, and Mayers ordered him to serve a day in jail.

Cornelius and Fore were booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Tuesday evening after the bench trial, according to jail records.

Horry County police charged the pair July 9 after officers seized 46 dogs of various breeds and nine birds from their properties. The animals on the property did not allow fire rescue department personnel to respond to a fire.

While on the scene, officers observed pens with several dogs that appeared to be neglected, while several more dogs inside the residence in cages also looked to be in poor condition. During the first visit, officers didn't know who the homeowner was, officials said.

According to the report, officers executed a search warrant at the residence and seized the animals. As a result of the investigation, warrants were issued on the homeowner, along with a family member who had five of his dogs at the property.

MURRELLS INLET

Nine vehicle break-ins tied to 19-year-old

Horry County Police have arrested a 19-year-old Murrells Inlet man in connection with a rash of car break-ins that occurred early last week in the Murrells Inlet section of Horry County, according to a news release from Sgt. Robert Kegler with the Horry County Police Department.

Mark McKay Wessells has been charged with nine counts of breaking into a motor vehicle, Kegler said. Wessells is in custody at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Police officers responded to several addresses in the Sweetwater subdivision in the Murrells Inlet section of Horry County between July 18 and July 20 in reference to complaints of vehicles broken into. In total, there were nine incidents reported during that period, Kegler said.

Wessells was arrested and charged in connection to the incidents early this morning.

OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C.

33-year-old sentenced in sex abuse

A 33-year-old Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., man has been sentenced to 100 months to 129 months in prison after pleading guilty Monday to committing a sex offense against a 15-year-old relative who was visiting his house in 2008, according to a news release from the Brunswick County district attorney's office.

Benjamin Eugene Hayman also will have to register as a sex offender when he is released, the release said.

The release said the now 17-year-old victim said in a statement to the court that Hayman had been sexually assaulting her since she was 6 years old. She said the assaults happened in other counties where either she or he lived.

He pleaded guilty to one offense in Brunswick County, the release said.

Local

Surfside Beach

Town Council holds skate park meeting

The Surfside Beach Town Council will hold a special meeting on Monday to receive information about the new skate park.The council will also hear about funding for the Dixie League World Series and will amend the budget to allow for the purchase of a split pump.The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Town Council chambers at 115 U.S. Business 17 North, Surfside Beach.