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2h ago

Former South Carolina Lawmaker RJ May Pleads Guilty to Five Federal Counts for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

Prosecutors say digital forensics tied a Kik account to May's devices, linking hundreds of unique videos to dozens of victims.

FILE - South Carolina Rep. RJ May, R-West Columbia, walks down the aisle of the House on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Columbia, South Carolina. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins, file)
FILE - Republican South Carolina Rep. R.J. May of Lexington sits at his new desk during the organizational session for the House on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins, file)
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Overview

  • A joint plea agreement entered in federal court ends plans for an October 9 trial and sets sentencing for January 14, 2026.
  • Each count carries a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison, fines up to $250,000, supervised release of five years to life, and lifetime sex-offender registration.
  • Investigators traced the Kik username "joebidennnn69" to May's home IP address and mobile phone, with device logs matching upload times to his activity.
  • Prosecutors describe hundreds of non-duplicated child-abuse videos and say there are 62 victims with 21 identified, citing five days with roughly 470 shares and a total of 958 files sent from his home.
  • May asked public defenders to assume his representation after acting as his own attorney, remains jailed since a June bond denial, and resigned his state House seat in August.