Brighton Photographer Arrested in US Over Alleged Child Exploitation

A photographer from Brighton has appeared in court in North Carolina, USA, accused of multiple counts of child sexual exploitation. Aaron Gary St Clair, 45, who grew up in Brighton and attended Varndean School and Brighton Metropolitan College, appeared virtually from custody in Wake County Court on Monday (3 November). St Clair, who previously worked […]

A photographer from Brighton has appeared in court in North Carolina, USA, accused of multiple counts of child sexual exploitation.

Aaron Gary St Clair, 45, who grew up in Brighton and attended Varndean School and Brighton Metropolitan College, appeared virtually from custody in Wake County Court on Monday (3 November).

St Clair, who previously worked for The Argus newspaper in Brighton before moving to the United States, was later employed by Splash News and more recently by Shutterstock.

He was arrested on Saturday (2 November) and charged with two counts of felony first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, relating to alleged incidents on 6 September, in which police claim he encouraged an 11-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity, according to court records.

US media reports that St Clair was already facing more than 15 previous charges involving children in Durham and Wake counties. These include allegations of possessing and duplicating sexually explicit material involving children as young as five years old, as well as indecent liberties with a 10-year-old boy in an alleged incident at a Durham brewery in May.

An investigation began after a woman reported that a man had allegedly photographed her son in a public restroom. Police said surveillance footage and vehicle registration details led them to identify St Clair as a suspect.

In a separate report filed earlier this year in Apex, North Carolina, a man — alleged to be St Clair — was accused of entering bathrooms after children at a local sports facility. He was later trespassed from the venue following a police interview.

Following his October arrest, investigators searched his home and vehicle, seizing computers, flash drives, SD cards, a drone, and multiple electronic devices as part of the ongoing investigation.

St Clair was remanded in custody before his court appearance, where a judge set bond at $200,000. His next court date is set for 7 November, when the remaining charges will be formally heard.