By Matt Vereen, a 28-year-old weekend anchor and sports reporter for WACH FOX 57 in South Carolina, has been arrested on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography, the state Attorney General’s Office announced Wednesday.
Vereen faces three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Arrest warrants obtained by WIS-TV detail the findings of a joint investigation by the Columbia Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the state’s Internet Crimes against Children Task Force.
Investigators reportedly found child pornography on Vereen’s laptop, including a digital photo of a girl estimated to be between 11 and 13 years old in a sexually suggestive pose. Additional warrants allege Vereen purchased videos depicting minors in sexual situations.
WACH FOX 57 issued a statement acknowledging the severity of the allegations and confirming that Vereen has been suspended pending an investigation. The station declined further comment, citing the matter as a personnel issue.
Vereen had been employed at WACH FOX 57 for nearly three years, following a stint as a sports reporter and anchor at KOLR in Springfield, Missouri.
The Alvin S. Glenn Bond Court has released Vereen on a $40,000 cash bond. His release conditions prohibit access to personal internet and social media outside of work, as well as unsupervised contact with minors.
If convicted, Vereen could face up to 30 years in prison. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities using Gmail records, Apple records, and other undisclosed sources to track Vereen’s alleged activities.
Credit: TMZ
