Aiken County Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Jacob Sturgell's mugshot. Photo courtesy Aiken County Detention Center

Date: May 18, 2021

A Warrenville man was arrested following a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Jacob Sturgell, 34, was arrested following a search of his home by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and members of the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The search yielded child sexual abuse material. The arrest warrants described several photos showing female children, some as young as 3 years old, engaged in various types of sexual activities.

Aiken Detention Center records show Sturgell was arrested May 11 and remains in custody as of May 18.

He is facing five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree, a felony carrying a prison term of up to 10 years in custody on each count.

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office assisted with the arrest.

Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.

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The Author

Dana Lynn McIntyre is an award-winning reporter who began working in radio news in her hometown of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She also worked as a television news photographer for a station in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Dana moved to Savannah, Ga. in 1984 to join the news team at WIXV-FM/I95 Radio. In early 1986, WBBQ Radio in Augusta invited her to interview for a position with the news department. Within three weeks, Dana was living in Olde Town and working at a legendary radio station. Dana left WBBQ in 1996 to join WJBF NewsChannel 6 as assignment manager. In 1998 she became a reporter/anchor covering law enforcement, crime and courts as well as witnessing two executions, one in Georgia, the other in South Carolina. She also spent time as an assignment manager-editor in Atlanta, metro New York City, and back in Augusta at WRDW Television. Dana joined The Augusta Press team in April 2021. Among Dana’s awards from the Georgia Associated Press Broadcasters Association are for Excellence in General Assignment Reporting, Spot News and Specialized Reporting. Dana also received an award for Public Service Reporting from the West Augusta Rotary Club for a story with actor LeVar Burton on his PBS Television show “Reading Rainbow."

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