South Carolina man who faked death pleads guilty

A Florence man accused of making child pornography who police say faked his own death has pleaded guilty.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported that 60-year-old Harvey Cox pleaded guilty this week to possession of child pornography and causing a rescue mission without reason.

He will be sentenced later.

Florence police talked with Cox in January 2011 and planned to interview him about alleged criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Several days later a fisherman made a distress call to the Department of Natural Resources about an empty boat in Murrells Inlet. Investigators found a wallet and keys and Cox's identification in the boat.

The Coast Guard spent $50,000 looking for Cox for two days.

He was arrested in Silver Springs, Fla., nearly two months later.