No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveSouth Carolina police detain Costa Rican man on child pornography charges in...

South Carolina police detain Costa Rican man on child pornography charges in the U.S.

Police in the southern U.S. state of South Carolina arrested a Costa Rican man, Michael Portilla, 29, on Thursday, and charged him with possession of child pornography, South Carolina News Channel 15 reported on its website.

According to the news report, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, made the arrest.

On July 16, deputies assisted the Department of Homeland Security in executing a search warrant at the Costa Rica native’s house in Myrtle Beach.

During the search officers found multiple images on a computer showing children engaged in sexual activity.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said Portilla was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The computer and other computer-related items were seized.

Portilla was released after posting a $10,000 bail bond, the report stated.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Highway Project Faces Questions Over Removal of Wildlife Routes

An internal audit at Costa Rica’s National Roadway Council (Conavi) has warned that construction work on the Barranca-Limonal highway disrupted natural overhead routes used...

Possible Archaeological Find in Costa Rica Delays Water Project

A long-awaited project to bring piped drinking water to Isla Caballo has hit another delay after crews uncovered ceramic pieces, shells and fossil material...

Costa Rica Raises Bus Fares Between San José and Nicaragua Border

Taking the bus from San José to the Nicaraguan border became more expensive today.The fare from San José to Peñas Blancas increased from ₡5,820...

Costa Rica Estate Becomes Refuge for Rare Agami Heron

Around 1,000 agami herons have made a private estate in Guatuso their home, creating an unusual concentration of one of the most elusive heron...

Costa Rican Surfers Chase a Home Title as WSL Finals Day Runs at Playa Hermosa

The quarterfinals, semifinals and final of the Garabito Surf City Pro all run Sunday at Playa Hermosa, with Leilani McGonagle carrying the strongest Costa Rican result into the closing rounds.

Costa Rica Audit Finds 157 Unfinished Works and Safety Risks on Route 32

A new technical audit of the Route 32 expansion has identified 157 unfinished works, unstable slopes and road-safety problems along the highway connecting central...

Costa Rica Lawmakers Challenge Sweeping State-Secrecy Order

Opposition lawmakers asked Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber today to immediately suspend a decree that places broad categories of government security information, including budgets and...

Cincinnati Open 2026 Sets All-North American Semifinal

An American man is guaranteed a place in the Cincinnati Open final after Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima won their quarterfinal matches on Friday....

Costa Rica Reviews 24 Extradition Requests in Drug Cases

Twenty-four Costa Rican citizens are being held while courts decide whether they should be sent to the United States, Panama or France to face...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel