Union County deputies say an undercover online sting stopped a planned meetup before it could happen, landing a Lancaster man in jail after he allegedly tried to meet someone he believed was a minor. Investigators say the suspect shared explicit images during the conversations and is now booked on charges of indecent liberties with a child and solicitation of a child by computer, held without bond in the county jail.
According to WSOC and WCNC, 55-year-old Timmy Hall of Lancaster, South Carolina, had been communicating online with people he believed were children and allegedly sent explicit photos while trying to arrange an in-person meeting. Detectives arrested Hall before that meetup ever took place, and local officials say he is being held in the Union County Detention Center while prosecutors review the case.
How deputies say the operation worked
Union County investigators have been running undercover decoy operations on social platforms to identify adults who try to solicit minors, a strategy that has already led to multiple arrests. In one March 2025 operation, detectives used fake profiles and prearranged meeting spots, a setup that helped them take several suspects into custody, as reported by WBTV.
Charges and what they mean
Hall faces two felony counts in North Carolina: indecent liberties with a child and solicitation of a child by computer. State law defines indecent liberties broadly and makes it a crime to use a computer or similar device to solicit a child for an unlawful sexual act. Both charges can carry prison time and mandatory sex offender registration under state law. The statutory language is available through the North Carolina General Assembly.
Resources and reporting tips
Child-safety advocates and law enforcement continue to urge parents to keep tabs on kids’ social media, tighten privacy settings where possible, and save screenshots of any suspicious messages before reporting them. Suspected online sexual exploitation, including tips related to this case, can be reported through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline and the Union County Sheriff’s Office online portals. For more information, visit the CyberTipline and the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
