Fox Host Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges

Matt Vereen, a 28-year-old weekend anchor and sports reporter for WACH Fox 57 in South Carolina, has been arrested on charges related to child pornography and child abuse.

Vereen faces three counts of sexual abuse of a child. According to an arrest warrant, his arrest followed the discovery of a photograph on his laptop depicting a child in a “sexually explicit state of nudity.” The image reportedly showed a young girl with her genitalia visible through “sheer see-through pants,” and her “right nipple” could be seen through a white see-through top.

Authorities traced Vereen through records from Apple, Gmail, and an internet service provider, among other sources. Another search warrant revealed that Vereen had sought to purchase a 1-minute and 32-second video featuring an underage girl. A third warrant mentioned his request for another video lasting one minute and twenty-six seconds.

Vereen’s LinkedIn profile indicates that he has been with WACH FOX 57 for nearly three years, following previous work as a news reporter for KOLR in Springfield, Missouri.

As reported by local news outlet Wis10, Vereen was granted a $40,000 cash surety bond by the Alvin S. Glenn Bond Court. The conditions of his bond prohibit him from using social media, accessing the internet at home, or communicating with a child without another adult present.

If convicted, Vereen could face up to 30 years in prison.

In response to the charges, WACH FOX 57 issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and confirming that Vereen has been suspended pending an investigation. The station added, "As this is a personnel matter, the station will not be commenting further at this time."

The South Carolina State Attorney General’s Office confirmed that Vereen has been charged with two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, all of which are felonies. According to the New York Post, Vereen was reportedly on the job covering the start of the University of South Carolina’s football season the day before his arrest.

Vereen, a University of Missouri graduate and South Carolina native, posted a $40,000 surety bond and was released from jail the day after his arrest, as reported by the Post and Courier.