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Matt Vereen, a 28-year-old weekend anchor and sports reporter for WACH Fox 57 in South Carolina, has been arrested on multiple serious charges, including child pornography and child abuse.
Authorities apprehended Vereen, charging him with three counts related to the sexual exploitation of minors. The charges stem from disturbing evidence found on his laptop, including an image depicting a child in a “sexually explicit state of nudity.”
The details provided in the arrest warrant describe alarming visuals involving a young girl, where parts of her body were apparently exposed through sheer clothing. The warrant indicates that her “genitalia could be seen through sheer see-through pants,” and her “right nipple can be seen through a white see-through top.”
Investigators uncovered a trail of digital evidence pointing to Vereen’s activities, which included records from Apple, Gmail, and an internet service provider (ISP). One of these records drew particular attention due to alarming content.
Moreover, additional search warrants reveal that Vereen allegedly sought to purchase a video lasting one minute and 32 seconds involving a minor, as well as another tape of similar duration that also featured a child.
A glance at Vereen’s LinkedIn profile reveals he has been with WACH FOX 57 for almost three years. Before this role, he served as a news reporter for KOLR in Springfield, Missouri.
In a statement to Wis10, the Alvin S. Glenn Bond Court informed that Vereen is subject to a $40,000 cash security bond. The conditions set forth include prohibitions on using social media, accessing the internet from home, and communicating with minors without adult supervision.
If found guilty, Vereen faces a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years.
Fox News anchor Matt Vereen has been arrested for possessing and distributing child pornography. He was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) August 25, 2024
“WACH FOX News understands the severity of these allegations and Vereen has been placed on suspension pending an investigation,” stated the network in an official announcement. “As this is a personnel matter, the station will not be commenting further at this time.”
“He was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, all felonies, the South Carolina State Attorney General’s Office reported. He faces the possibility of up to three decades in prison if convicted,” reported the New York Post.
“Vereen was allegedly at his workplace covering the start of the University of South Carolina’s football season the day before his arrest. A native of Carolina, he graduated from the University of Missouri as per his social media accounts,” the report further noted.
“The Post and Courier confirmed that he posted a $40,000 surety bond, resulting in his release from jail just a day after the arrest,” the New York Post reported.
