A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a nine-count indictment charging Jonathan Andrew Monk, 44, of Columbia, for attempted production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to a July 28 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Monk faces a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute individuals who exploit children online and to identify victims.
The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting it. The indictment includes only accusations at this stage; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
“If you have any information to report to law enforcement, please contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or (803) 551-4200,” the announcement said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina protects communities across South Carolina with a team of 120 prosecutors and support professionals; it manages criminal prosecutions, civil cases, collections for the federal government, represents the federal government in legal matters statewide, and handles both criminal prosecutions and civil litigation, according to its official website.