James Island Man Charged in Child Porn Investigation

A 70-year-old James Island man has been caught up in a Department of Homeland Security child pornography investigation.

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office and DHS's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) charged Richard Thaddeus Pokryfka, 70, of 2330 Palmer Creek Bend, James Island with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor 2nd degree and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor 3rd degree, according to charging documents provided by CCSO.

CCSO deputies and agents with HSI carried out a search warrant at Pokryfka's home Thursday after he allegedly sent two videos and a photo depicting children engaged in sexual activity to HSI investigators conducting an ongoing child pornography investigation, according to the documents. A third video allegedly was discovered on Pokryfka's computer during the Wednesday search.

The photo and two videos were allegedly sent to investigators on April 12, 2013. The photo and videos all feature prepubescent children and adults, according to the information provided by investigators.

Pokryfka is a retired Citadel professor and former Navy captain. He is also an independent contractor with RTP Solutions, Live5News reports.