Columbia TV journalist arrested on charges of possession of child sexual abuse material

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A local journalist at Columbia news station WACH FOX 57 has been arrested for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

According to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Matt Vereen, 28, was arrested on Wednesday and taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Vereen was charged with three charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor: two counts in the second degree and another count in the third degree.

A press release stated Vereen was arrested by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. The investigation was conducted by investigators with the Columbia Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the state’s ICAC Task Force.

Arrest warrants state that child sexual abuse material involving an underage girl was found on his Apple laptop during a search warrant on Wednesday.

Another search warrant says Vereen solicited the purchase of a one-minute and 32-second video of an underage girl. A third warrant said he solicited another video that was one minute and 26 seconds long.

Vereen was identified through Gmail records, Apple records, ISP records and another record that was redacted, according to an arrest warrant.

A copy of the arrest warrants can be found below: Viewer discretion is advised as the text graphically describes the alleged crimes.

According to Vereen’s LinkedIn page, he has worked as a sports anchor and reporter for WACH FOX 57 for nearly three years. Prior to this, he worked as a sports reporter and anchor at KOLR, a news station in Springfield, Missouri.

WACH FOX 57 said Friday that Vereen has been placed on suspension.

Alvin S. Glenn Bond Court confirmed Vereen was given a $40,000 cash surety bond. The conditions of his bond include no access to personal internet, no use of social media outside of work and no with a minor without adult supervision.

Vereen faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

WACH FOX 57 released a public statement on the matter which reads:

“Sports reporter Matt Vereen has been arrested and charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

WACH FOX News understands the severity of these allegations and Vereen has been placed on suspension pending an investigation.

As this is a personnel matter, the station will not be commenting further at this time.”

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

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