Charleston County deputy arrested on child sexual exploitation charges

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A Charleston County deputy was arrested Wednesday for several charges of child sexual exploitation, jail records state.

64-year-old Master Limited Duty Deputy Darren R. Kerner was booked at the Charleston County Detention Center on ten charges of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree.

The charges pertain to a pending Internet Crimes Against Children investigation involving Kerner.

He is currently incarcerated with no bond set.

Charleston Police Department officers arrested Kerner, and the department is the lead investigative agency on the case against him.

He has been employed with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office since May 2003, according to the agency. The office said when they learned of the accusations against Kerner they moved to place him on leave pending the investigation.

“Please be advised that any actions of this nature shall never be tolerated, especially within our agency. As such, we are fully committed to ensuring the highest standards of accountability and integrity,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “We take this matter very seriously and will continue to cooperate with our surrounding agencies and authorities in their investigation.”