Bluffton man wanted on child porn charge turns himself into police

A Bluffton man wanted on a charge of sexual exploitation of a minor in connection with child pornography found on his computer more than a year ago, turned himself in Thursday afternoon, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff's Office release.

Scott Thomas Taylor, 44, turned himself in to the Sheriff's Office just after noon Thursday. He was arrested and taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center, where bond had not been set Thursday evening, according to the jail log.

Taylor was reported missing by his brother-in-law Monday, according to a Sheriff's Office report filed Wednesday. The brother-in-law apparently hadn't seen the suspect since Oct. 6 -- the same day Sheriff's Office officials got a warrant for the man's arrest and began searching for him, according to the report and Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Cpl. Robin McIntosh.

The brother-in-law was not aware the man was wanted by authorities, McIntosh said.

In September 2008, Taylor, who was recently employed at the Barony Beach Club at Port Royal on Hilton Head Island, took his computer hard drive to Best Buy for repairs, according to the release. A Best Buy Geek Squad technician discovered several images of what appeared to be children engaged in sexual activities and called the Sheriff's Office, according to the release.

Forensic analysis by the S.C. Law Enforcement Division -- returned to the Sheriff's Office in July -- confirmed the presence of child pornography files on the man's computer, according to McIntosh and the release.