DARLINGTON, SC (WBTW) – A Darlington man has been charged with identity theft and other crimes after impersonating another man charged with child sex crimes.

Nathaniel Joe was arrested and charged with identity fraud, according to Lt. Robert Kilgo, with the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office.

According to warrants, Joe is accused of creating a fake social media account and portraying himself as another man to contact the victim of criminal sexual conduct with a minor “with the purpose of avoiding identification by a law enforcement officer.”

Kilgo said the man Joe is accused of impersonating was originally charged with child sex crimes.

According to warrants, Joe is also accused of :

  • distributing “a visual representation” of a minor engaged in sex acts
  • sexual battery with a 14-year-old
  • kidnapping a 14-year-old and forcing the victim “to partake in sexual activities by making threats against the victim’s life as well as taking the victim’s cellular device”
  • distributing “harmful material to minors” depicting sexually explicit activity
  • communicating “with the juvenile victim through social media and text messaging for the purpose of enticing the victim to engage in sexual activities”
  • threatening “to release a video on social media of the juvenile victim” engaged in sex acts
Nathaniel Joe (Courtesy- W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center)

W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center booking records show Joe was booked around 10:30 a.m. on May 9 on the following charges:

  • blackmail or extortion
  • minor/criminal solicitation of a minor
  • disseminating harmful material to minors
  • ID/identity fraud to obtain employment
  • kidnapping
  • criminal sexual conduction w/ minor (11-14 yrs) – second degree
  • sexual exploitation of a minor- first degree
  • sexual exploitation of a minor- second degree

Bond has been denied on all charges and Joe remains in the center, according to booking records.

LATEST HEADLINES: