Attorney Gen.: Anderson man arrested on sexual exploitation of minors charges

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office has charged an Anderson man with several counts of sexual exploitation of minors.

Attorney Gen. Alan Wilson said 57-year-old Joseph Harold Patterson has been charged with five counts of criminal solicitation of a minor, four counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, three counts of dissemination of obscene material to a minor 12 years of age or younger and five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Wilson said Patterson allegedly shared obscene material and facilitated sexual acts involving multiple minor victims. Members of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.

Patterson will be prosecuted be the Attorney General’s Office, Wilson said.

Anyone with information regarding potential illegal activity with Patterson should contact Crimestoppers at 1 (888)-CRIME-SC.