A woman arrested in the Christmas Day ATM bombing on Edisto Island last month faces new charges after sexually explicit images of children were found on his phone, according to authorities.
Charleston County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Kelsie Lynn Ammons on March 10 on three counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
She was being held on $30,000 bond on March 11 at the Charleston County Jail.
Kelsie Ammons. Charleston County Sheriff’s Office / Supplied
Ammons, 35, from the Round O community near Cottageville, was previously arrested on February 10 on allegations that she helped her brother David Earl Ammons II during the attempted robbery of an ATM at the Enterprise Bank of South Carolina on Edisto Island.
Kelsie Ammons provided a statement to detectives after her arrest in the bombing case, according to newly filed court records, and consented to having her phone searched.
During the search, detectives found three sexually explicit photos of children on the device, records show. Two children appear to be between 9 and 12 years old, while the other child appears to be between 12 and 14 years old, according to documents released on March 11.
Two of the photos show sexually explicit activity, according to the records.
Andrew Knapp, spokesman for the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, said March 11 that the matter was still under investigation.
David Earl Ammons II, 38, was arrested on January 19 on allegations that he planted a pipe bomb on the morning of December 25 outside the bank’s ATM.
The bomb smoked for about 40 seconds before exploding, exploding the kiosk that contained the ticket machine.
The bomb was not powerful enough to pierce the ATM and Ammons, who was wearing a heavy disguise, fled the bank empty-handed, authorities said.
Law enforcement officials allege Kelsie Ammons was her brother’s getaway driver. The woman was seen driving a vehicle used in the crime that morning, Knapp said, and her cellphone records showed her phone was being used on Edisto Island at the time of the incident. explosion.
David Earl Ammons II is charged with second degree burglary, safecracking and use of a destructive device. He remains incarcerated without bail.
Kelsie Ammons was charged with making a bomb threat or conspiring to do so, a crime punishable by 15 years in prison.
She was released from jail in the case on Feb. 14 after posting $40,000 bond, according to jail records.
To reach Steve Garrison at 843-607-1052. Follow him on Twitter @SteveGarrisonDT.