Two More Citadel Cadets Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges

Four cadets now accused of sexually exploiting minors in under a week at the military college

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:19pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a cracked and damaged electronic device, conveying a stark, gritty, and investigative aesthetic without depicting any violence or victims.The seizure of electronic devices linked to child exploitation charges at a prestigious military college exposes the dark underbelly of technology misuse.

Two more former Citadel cadets, Brice Eill Lawrimore and Tyler Craig Washburn, have been arrested and charged with 10 counts each of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree. This brings the total number of Citadel cadets accused of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges to four within the past week, in what authorities say are unconnected cases.

Why it matters

The string of arrests at the prestigious military college has raised serious concerns about the institution's ability to properly vet and monitor cadets, as well as questions about the broader issue of CSAM possession and distribution among young adults.

The details

Police say they received CyberTipline reports in November 2025 about Lawrimore and Washburn's alleged possession and distribution of CSAM. Lawrimore was found to have deleted an email account when he saw police on campus, while Washburn had reportedly deleted his email and was en route to Asheville, North Carolina when authorities executed a search warrant, seizing his electronic devices. Both men were found to have multiple videos depicting nude juveniles and sex acts involving minors on their devices.

  • On Nov. 24, 2025, police received CyberTipline reports about Lawrimore and Washburn's alleged CSAM activity.
  • On March 5, 2026, police executed search warrants at the Citadel and found evidence of Lawrimore and Washburn deleting email accounts.
  • On March 11 and March 19, 2026, police executed additional search warrants and found CSAM on Lawrimore and Washburn's devices.
  • On March 26, 2026, Lawrimore and Washburn were arrested and booked at the Al Cannon Detention Center.

The players

Brice Eill Lawrimore

A 19-year-old former Citadel cadet who was arrested on 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree.

Tyler Craig Washburn

A 22-year-old former Citadel cadet who was arrested on 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree.

Charleston Police Department

The law enforcement agency that investigated the CSAM allegations against the former Citadel cadets and executed search warrants.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

The organization that provided CyberTipline reports to authorities about the alleged CSAM activity.

South Carolina Attorney General's Office (SCAG)

The state agency that received the NCMEC CyberTipline reports and forwarded them to the Charleston Police Department.

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What’s next

The Citadel has confirmed that all four accused cadets are no longer enrolled at the military college. The cases against Lawrimore and Washburn are ongoing, with both men having posted $200,000 bond for their 10 charges each.

The takeaway

These arrests highlight the troubling prevalence of child sexual abuse material among young adults, even at prestigious institutions like the Citadel. It raises urgent questions about how to better identify, prevent, and address such exploitation within educational and military settings.