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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.

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L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
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