Columbia, South Carolina’s Sports Journalist, Matt Vereen, Faces Charges

Published Aug. 26, 2024

28-year-old sports journalist, Matt Vereen, known for his on-air role at WACH Fox 57, was arrested last week for sexual exploitation of a minor. According to prosecutors, the local South Carolina reporter was caught with explicit, illicit material featuring an underage girl, later discovered on his personal laptop.

Details of the Charges

Authorities allege that Vereen had in his possession a disturbing image of an underage girl between 11 to 13 years old on his Apple computer, as cited by the arrest warrant. Furthermore, he faced accusations of soliciting the purchase of two different near-90-second sexually explicit video clips involving naked girls, approximately 13-years-old, in July 2023.

In a statement released by WACH Fox 57 in the aftermath of Vereen’s arrest, the station acknowledged, “WACH FOX News understands the severity of these allegations and Vereen has been placed on suspension pending an investigation,”.

Legal Consequences

Vereen was indicted on two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, constituting felonies as established by the South Carolina State Attorney General’s Office. Notoriously, the journalist could be facing up to thirty years of incarceration if found guilty.

A Career in Jeopardy

The journalist was last seen on the job just a day before his arrest, covering the University of South Carolina’s football season kickoff. A University of Missouri alumni and a Carolina native, Vereen reportedly posted a $40,000 surety bond and was released from jail a day following his arrest.