Harvey Cox in court on March 11.
Harvey Cox, 60, of Florence now faces federal charges, accused of faking his own death to avoid a criminal sexual conduct with a minor charge.
United States Attorney Bill Nettles said Wednesday that Cox has been charged in a 3-count Superseding Indictment with intentionally causing the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct a search and rescue operation when no help was needed, the manufacturing and production of child pornography, and the possession of child pornography.
If convicted, Cox faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 25 years, a maximum term of 50 years imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000.
Deputies say Cox left his boat, wallet and truck at a landing in Murrells Inlet in January. The U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Natural Resources and Georgetown County Sheriff's Office looked for Cox for days.
Deputies in Florida arrested him in March.
The Florence County Sheriff's Office charged Cox with three counts of Committing a Lewd Act Upon a Minor, two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor Victim 11 to 14 Years of Age Inclusive-Second Degree, and Sex/Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, First Degree.
Warrants say Cox committed the acts with three victims between November 1999 and January 2011. They add that the acts happened multiple times at his home and his business.
Cox is being held in the Florence County Detention Center.
