Three Lexington County residents were arrested last month on charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors.

S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Lexington resident Tyron Demarcus Napleon Wise, 30; Cayce resident Drew Carson Alexander, 30; and Batesburg resident Hatwell Tyler Keenum, 36 on 11 total charges, per a news release.

“Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office made the arrests in these unrelated cases,” the release states. “Investigators with the Attorney General’s Office, also a member of the state’s ICAC Task Force, assisted with these investigations.

“Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to both Alexander and Keenum. Investigators state Alexander distributed and possessed child sexual abuse material and Keenum distributed files of child sexual abuse material. Investigators state Wise sent sexually explicit images to a person he believed to be a minor.”

Alexander, arrested July 26, is charged with one count of second degree sexual exploitation of a minor and six counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Keenum, arrested July 20, is charged with three counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Wise, arrested July 26, is charged with one count of disseminating obscene material to a person under 18.

All of the cases will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

“Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law,” the release states.