Additional charges filed in South Carolina
A South Carolina man accused of possessing child sexual abuse material is facing additional charges after investigators in a neighboring county reviewed data from his phone, authorities said. David Leshaun Marsh, 53, of Johnsonville, was charged Tuesday in Horry County with two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
The Horry County charges came days after the Florence County Sheriff’s Office arrested Marsh on Oct. 29 and accused him of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Investigators in Florence County allege that he possessed material showing a minor engaged in sexual activity or in sexually explicit nudity. The sheriff’s office said the alleged collection included more than 250 files depicting child sexual material.
The charges are allegations, and the available reporting does not establish a finding of guilt. The source material does not identify a lawyer for Marsh, describe a plea, or provide details about bail or the next court hearing. Those procedural issues will determine how the cases proceed in the two counties.
Investigation expanded across county lines
The Horry County Sheriff’s Office announced its charges after examining information recovered from Marsh’s phone. The announcement followed public attention to his former work at SuperKicks, a martial arts school in Conway that offered after-school programs for children.
The school addressed the case in a social-media statement posted Nov. 1, saying it knew about the arrest of a former instructor. SuperKicks said investigators had told school officials that the material under examination was digitally created and did not involve anyone from the school. The statement did not identify any student as a victim, and the available account does not report that investigators had alleged that conduct occurred at the facility.
“SuperKicks had no knowledge of the activities he is accused of,” the school said.
The school said it was reviewing its procedures and emphasized its responsibility to protect children enrolled in its programs. Its statement described student safety as a central priority and said the organization intended to maintain an environment where children could train and learn securely.
What is known about the case
| Date | Reported development |
|---|---|
| Oct. 29 | Florence County deputies arrested Marsh on a third-degree exploitation charge. |
| Nov. 1 | SuperKicks issued a statement about its former instructor. |
| Tuesday | Horry County authorities announced two second-degree exploitation charges after reviewing phone data. |
The sequence reflects an investigation that moved beyond the initial arrest as authorities examined evidence connected to Marsh. The separate charges in Florence and Horry counties mean the allegations are being handled by law-enforcement and court systems in more than one jurisdiction. The source material does not say whether the cases will be combined, whether additional charges are possible or whether prosecutors in either county have announced a broader investigation.
Public-safety implications
Cases involving alleged child sexual exploitation can raise immediate questions for schools, youth programs and families about screening, supervision and reporting procedures. In this case, the martial arts school’s public response focused on its lack of knowledge of the alleged conduct and its decision to review its practices. That statement, however, does not resolve the criminal allegations against Marsh, which must be addressed through the courts.
Authorities have not, in the available reporting, alleged that children at SuperKicks were depicted in the material or that the school was involved in the conduct. The reported charges instead concern the alleged possession of prohibited material. As the proceedings advance, evidence presented in court will be required to establish what Marsh possessed, how investigators obtained it and whether the accusations meet the legal elements of the charges filed in each county.
- Marsh faces one reported charge in Florence County and two additional charges in Horry County.
- Investigators said the alleged material included more than 250 files.
- SuperKicks said Marsh was a former instructor and that the school was reviewing its procedures.
