Officials: Former deputy got nude photos from teen girl

LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) — A former South Carolina deputy who was accused of hitting a woman with his elbow last year is facing additional charges after receiving nude photos from a 16-year-old girl on social media, authorities said.

The photo exchange began in April in Lexington County when Michael Scott Valdario, of Greer, sent sexual messages to the teen, according to a Lexington County Sheriff’s Department incident report that was obtained by The Greenville News.

The former Greenville County Sheriff's Office deputy enticed the girl to send the images on Snapchat and then replied with sexual comments when he received them, said arrest warrants from the state Attorney General’s office.

Valdario was charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor second degree in September, and kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct first degree a month later. It’s not clear if the subsequent charges are related to the September charge, but the newspaper reported that they stem from incidents in Lexington County.

Defense attorney Robert Williams Sr. did not respond to a request for comment by the newspaper on Monday.

Valdario was fired in March 2019, the same month that he was charged with domestic violence for hitting a woman in Travelers Rest and refusing to allow her to leave, according to an arrest warrant.

His other attorney, Michael Laubshire, said that case was “weak” and should be dismissed.