CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) – A Charleston County Sheriff’s Deputy has been arrested and is facing charges related to child sexual exploitation. Master Limited Duty Deputy Darren R. Kerner, a Class 3 Limited Enforcement Officer, was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon after being charged with 10 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
Kerner, who has been with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office since May 2003, was arrested by the Charleston Police Department as part of an investigation into Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC).
Sheriff Carl Ritchie issued a statement following the arrest, expressing the agency’s commitment to maintaining high standards of accountability and integrity. He stated, “Any actions of this nature shall never be tolerated, especially within our agency. We take this matter very seriously and will continue to cooperate with our surrounding agencies and authorities in their investigation.”
The Charleston Police Department is currently handling the investigation.