Military spokesperson releases statement on S.C. man arrested on child sexual exploitation charges

GRANITEVILLE, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A military spokesperson has released a statement about the 29-year-old man arrested on child sexual abuse material charges.

Sean Benjamin Cushman, of Graniteville, was arrested Tuesday on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree, according to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.

He was released on $15,000 bond, according to authorities.

The charges are felonies, which are punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count, Wilson says.

Officials say investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which led to Cushman’s arrest.

Investigators state Cushman possessed files of child sexual abuse material.

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigators, along with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, made the arrest, according to Wilson.

A spokesperson for the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade said in a statement:

“Capt. Sean Cushman is an active-duty soldier currently assigned to the 11th Cyber Battalion, U.S. Army Cyber Command. Aiken County Sheriff’s Office arrested Cushman on 15 July 2025 and is conducting the investigation. We refer any further inquiries to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Army remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct and integrity. Allegations of misconduct are taken seriously, and the Army will fully support the appropriate authorities in their investigation.”

The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute this case.

The South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force says that so far this year, it has received around 7,555 CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

By this time of the year in 2024, the task force had received around 5,822.

The task force is on pace to receive more than 12,000 this year.