Man Posing as Combat Veteran Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stolen Valor and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - William Steven Wooten, 46, of Lexington, has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for stolen valor and possession of child sexual abuse material. Wooten was convicted on the child sexual abuse charges by a federal jury earlier this year.

The FBI 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 in February 2026, Wooten pleaded guilty to possessing the fraudulent DD-214.

"Wooten exploited the respect our society holds for veterans for his own personal gain. Worse yet, he posed as a combat veteran to gain access to young children," said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. "This sentence holds him accountable for a disturbing pattern of deception and exploitation. This case demonstrates our commitment to protecting children and ensuring predators face significant consequences for their crimes."

"Protecting children is among the FBI's highest priorities, and we will continue working tirelessly to investigate and bring to justice those who exploit them," said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla. "The defendant's possession of child sexual abuse material was deeply disturbing as was his victimization of children. This sentence ensures he is being held accountable for his reprehensible conduct."

United States District Judge Donald Coggins, Jr. sentenced Wooten to 109 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a 20-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.

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