Former Rock Hill Teacher Indicted on Federal Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
A federal grand jury has charged Douglas Melvin MacAlpine with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, according to an indictment announced on August 10, 2026.
2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 20, 2026, 5:55 p.m. ET
A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a five-count indictment charging Douglas Melvin MacAlpine, 38, of York, with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina. The indictment was announced on August 10, 2026.
The indictment alleges that MacAlpine used the Kik social media application at least four times to distribute files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to other Kik users in the fall of 2024. Subsequent state and federal search warrants revealed that MacAlpine's cell phone and Kik accounts contained hundreds of CSAM files, and that he possessed CSAM material in March 2025.
MacAlpine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, special assessments of up to $40,000, and lifetime supervision, as well as sex offender registry requirements if convicted. He is currently detained pending trial. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the York County Sheriff's Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews.
These charges are merely accusations at this stage, and the case has not been decided. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Earlier reports
Aug 20, 2026, 5:55 p.m. ETFirst report
York Man Indicted on Federal CSAM Charges in South Carolina
According to official court records from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina, a federal grand jury in Columbia returned a five-count indictment on August 10, 2026, charging Douglas Melvin MacAlpine, 38, of York, with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. MacAlpine is currently detained pending trial. All charges in the indictment are allegations, and MacAlpine is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Official records state that the indictment alleges MacAlpine used the Kik social media application at least four times in the fall of 2024 to distribute files containing child sexual abuse material to other Kik users. Subsequent state and federal search warrants revealed that MacAlpine's cell phone and Kik accounts contained hundreds of child sexual abuse material files. The indictment further alleges that he possessed child sexual abuse material in March 2025.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Columbia Field Office and the York County Sheriff's Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews as part of Project Safe Childhood. If convicted, MacAlpine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, special assessments of up to $40,000, lifetime supervision, and sex offender registry requirements.
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Revision history
- Version 120 Aug 2026, 22:22current
First published.
- Version 120 Aug 2026, 21:55current
First published.
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