COLUMBIA – A Blythewood and Columbia-area photographer was charged with a sex crime involving a child, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department reported.
Gregg Martin, 53, was arrested April 8 after deputies received a report of him taking inappropriate photographs of a young girl under his care, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
An investigation revealed that Martin groomed the child and gave her illegal substances, according to the release. Martin was charged with engaging a child under 18 for sexual performance in addition to unlawful conduct toward a child, according to the news release.
Martin owns Gregg Martin Photographic Design and is a well-known photographer in the Blythewood area who takes sports photos of students from Blythewood High School, Ridge View High School, Cardinal Newman and other area schools, many of which can be viewed on his website.
If convicted on the felony charge of engaging a child under 18 for sexual performance, Martin would be guilty of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and could face up to 20 years in prison, and unlawful conduct towards a child is a felony charge that could bring a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison, according to South Carolina law.
Jail records show Martin has been released from Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Information on his bond is not yet available.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott is asking potential victims to come forward at this time. Anyone with information about Martin is asked by the Sheriff’s department to call CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC.