William Steven Wooten, 46, of Lexington, has been convicted by a federal jury following two days of trial. Wooten was found guilty on one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.*

Evidence introduced at trial showed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was conducting a stolen valor investigation related to Wooten’s possession and use of a fraudulent form DD-214, a military discharge document. Wooten purported to be a combat veteran and to have earned a Purple Heart. In truth, Wooten had never served in the military. Wooten used the fraudulent document in an effort to obtain employment and to convince a single mother that he was an upstanding citizen who could be trusted around her young children.

The FBI obtained a search warrant for Wooten’s phone and discovered child sexual abuse material, in addition to the fraudulent DD-214. FBI forensic examiners located 203 images depicting child sexual abuse. Search terms indicated Wooten was seeking images of young girls, including children being abused by adult males. 

Just eight months before the FBI found Wooten in possession of child sexual abuse material and the fraudulent discharge document, Wooten was found guilty in state court for criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Approximately two weeks before his federal trial, Wooten pleaded guilty to possessing the fraudulent DD-214.

Wooten faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years on the child sexual abuse material conviction, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution. U.S. District Judge Donald C. Coggins presided over the trial and will sentence Wooten after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Watkins and Winston Marosek are prosecuting the case.