Anderson man charged with felony pandering

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in a sexual offense case.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, on July 28, a parent contacted investigators advising that an adult male was contacting their daughter, who was under the age of 18, using a social media site.

Shirley says in these communications it appeared to the parent and investigators that the suspect was attempting to arrange sexual encounters with the minor.

He says that investigators began conducting an undercover chat operation with the suspect.

Investigators posed as the minor.

During this undercover exchange the suspect agreed to meet the minor at an undisclosed location in person, have a sexual encounter, and provide the minor with money.

Shirley says that when the male arrived, investigators immediately arrested him.

Shirley says that the male, 50-year-old Charles Whitworth, of Anderson, South Carolina was charged with one count of felony pandering.

Whitworth is currently being held at the Stephens County Jail pending a bond hearing.