Tip about alleged activity on Google leads to child sex charges against man in Horry County

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – A tip led to a man being arrested in Horry County on child sex charges.

The Horry County Sheriff’s Office arrested Steve Leonard, 52, on charges of two counts of criminal sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

The sheriff’s office said the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a tip to investigators about alleged criminal activity on Google.

From there, deputies said they identified Leonard and a minor victim under 11.

Jail records show Leonard was booked on Wednesday and remains in custody as of this writing.

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case.

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