Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that an Upstate man has been sentenced to prison for sexual exploitation of minors

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that an Upstate man has been sent to prison for sexual exploitation of minors. On September 3, 2024, Gabriel Hostetler pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree, in Pickens County before the Honorable William C. McMaster, III.

On June 27, 2021, Special Investigator Kevin Atkins of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office conducted a proactive investigation into the use of a file-sharing network for the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. While online, he found a user who was making files containing child sexual abuse material available for sharing. Investigator Atkins was able to identify a residence in Inman, South Carolina as the home from which the material was being shared and the case was referred to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation. On December 15, 2021, a search warrant was executed for the home. Hostetler was not home at the time, but was later arrested and interviewed. After being advised of his Miranda rights, he admitted to using his cell phone to share child sexual abuse material. A search of his cell phone was conducted and multiple images of child sexual abuse material were found on the device. Hostetler was subsequently arrested and charged with 10 counts of 2nd degree sexual exploitation of a minor (distribution) and 10 counts of 3rd degree SEM (possession).

On September 26, 2022, Special Investigator Kevin Atkins conducted another proactive investigation into the use of a file sharing network for the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, and while online, he located a user who was making files available for sharing. Inv. Atkins was able to identify a residence in Easley, South Carolina as the location from which the child sexual abuse material was being shared. This case was referred to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation. Ultimately, the investigation revealed that the occupants of the Anderson County home had moved to Spartanburg. Police located the homeowner, who revealed that his brother, Gabriel Hostetler, was living with him at the time of the file sharing incident and had since moved to Pickens County. At this time, a referral was made to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and police obtained a search warrant for the Pickens home on October 6, 2022. Hostetler was home and agreed to speak with police. He admitted that he still had child abuse material on his devices. When he checked his mobile phone, he discovered that there were more illegal images on it.

Judge McMaster sentenced Hostetler to six years for each count, to be served concurrently. He was given 787 days in jail and must register as a Tier 2 sex offender upon his release.

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