ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD / WSPA) – Sheriff Leroy Ravenell announced a North teen has been arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of a toddler.
“This is just unfathomable to think anyone could take advantage of a small child such as this,” the sheriff said. “Many crimes are heinous in nature. But this is just beyond understanding.”
Kyle Michael Teran, 17, has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
During a hearing on Monday, Teran was formally presented his rights while any bond consideration was deferred to a circuit court judge.
Ravenell said Orangeburg County Sheriff’s investigators were called to a North residence Sunday around 8:40 a.m. after a man reported initially a missing person and a sexual assault.
The man said he had confronted a relative over photos the teen was said to have taken of a child. The man sent the teen to the teen’s bedroom for the night. However, the teen sneaked out of a window and ran away.
Another witness said they were babysitting the child when the witness said she fell asleep for a few minutes.
When she woke up, she said the teen was standing over the sleeping child taking photographs of the child’s unclothed body.
Acquaintances notified the relatives where the teen was in Lexington County.
Deputies said Teran was found and brought to Orangeburg where he admitted taking photos to upload to a pedophile website, according to WCSC.
Teran faces up to 15 years for the criminal sexual conduct charge alone.
