Sumter man arrested on 15 child porn charges

A Sumter man has been arrested on 15 charges connected to the exploitation of a minor.

The S.C. Attorney General's Office announced Thursday the arrest of Danny Eric Hope in a news release.

Investigators with the state office's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Sumter County Sheriff's Office made the arrest Thursday. 

Hope, 55, distributed and possessed child pornography files, according to investigators. He's charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree, which is a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Hope was also charged with 15 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree, also a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison on each count.

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office, according to the release.