The owner of Paddle South Outfitters in Chapin was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of first degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Travis Hammack, 35, was sentenced June 30 in Lexington County General Sessions Court, the 11th Circuit Solicitor's Office details in a news release. His convictions are violent crimes, requiring that Hammack must register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.

“On the night of August 29, 2021, Hammack coerced a teenage girl to send him sexually explicit videos via Snap Chat,” the release states.  “The next morning, Hammack physically assaulted the victim. After the assault, the victim reported that Hammack had been sexually abusing her for several years and that Hammack would record the incidents of sexual abuse.  

“The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department arrested Hammack and seized his cell phone.  Hammack’s phone and SnapChat records were searched pursuant to a search warrant.  Despite apparent attempts to delete data from his phone, two sexually explicit videos of a minor were recovered, as well other evidence corroborating the victim’s report of years of sexual and psychological abuse by Hammack.”

The Major Crimes Unit of the sheriff’s department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by 11th Circuit Assistant Solicitors Ashley Wellman and Sam Jones.

“The victim and a law enforcement investigator addressed the court at the sentencing hearing,” the release states.

Hammock was transported to the state Department of Corrections to immediately begin serving his sentence.

Paddle South, located on Chapin Road sells and rents kayaks and paddleboards, advertising them for use on Lake Murray, Lake Monticello and the Broad, Saluda and Congaree rivers.