A former Clarendon County school administrator has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor following an investigation into the possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Daniel McCathern was arrested Thursday, Aug. 20, and charged with third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to the sheriff’s office, the arrest followed an investigation by its Criminal Investigations Division and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Investigators said they established probable cause that McCathern possessed child sexual abuse material. Authorities did not release additional details about the material or what prompted the investigation.
The investigation remains ongoing as investigators conduct forensic examinations of electronic devices seized during the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.
McCathern was taken to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center and has since been released on bond. Bond information was not included in the release.
McCathern previously worked in Clarendon County schools, including serving in an administrative role with the former Clarendon School District 2.
Public salary records compiled by GovSalaries.com show McCathern was employed by Clarendon School District 2 in 2017 and 2018 and list him as an assistant superintendent in 2018.
Clarendon School District 2 was one of the county’s former school districts before Clarendon County’s school systems were consolidated into the current Clarendon County School District.
