John Lewis Cottrell III, a former James Island firefighter from Johns Island, S.C., was arraigned on December 30, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on federal charges related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He remains in custody following his initial arrest on October 3, 2025, as part of an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigation.​
Charges and Investigation
A federal grand jury indicted Cottrell on four counts: three for sexual exploitation of a child and one for possession of CSAM, stemming from hidden cameras and electronic devices found during a search of his home that allegedly captured minors. State charges include 10 counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, each carrying up to 20 years in prison. The case originated from a CyberTipline report via Dropbox, involving agencies like Charleston Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and South Carolina’s ICAC Task Force.​
Potential Penalties
Cottrell faces up to 30 years in federal prison per exploitation count and a $250,000 fine, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Orville. He previously held a $1 million bond on state charges and is no longer employed by the James Island Public Service District Fire Department.
