Former South Carolina Republican lawmaker RJ May, who railed against transgender care for kids on the House floor, received 17.5 years in federal prison for distributing child sex abuse videos of toddlers.
Story Snapshot
- Ex-Rep. RJ May III pleaded guilty to sharing 220 CSAM files on Kik in a five-day 2024 spree, flagged by the platform.
- May championed child protection laws, including bans on gender-affirming care for minors, exposing shocking hypocrisy.
- Federal Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced him to 17.5 years, below prosecutors’ 20-year request but within guidelines.
- May must pay $58,500 restitution, register as a lifetime sex offender, and loses voting and gun rights forever.
The Crime and Guilty Plea
Robert John “RJ” May III, 39-year-old former South Carolina House Republican, distributed 220 files of child sexual abuse material over five days in spring 2024. Using the Kik app under username “joebidennnn69,” he exchanged videos showing toddlers and young children abused, including by parents. Kik’s automated detection flagged the content and reported it to federal authorities, sparking a U.S. Attorney’s Office investigation.
May’s Public Facade as Child Protector
May served his third term pushing conservative priorities. In January 2024, he spoke on the House floor advocating child protection measures, voting eight times for related bills and criticizing transgender care for minors as harmful. South Carolina debated restrictions on gender-affirming treatments that year, with May positioning himself as a defender of vulnerable kids against radical agendas. His private actions shattered that image.
Sentencing Details and Judicial Rationale
On January 14, 2026, in Columbia federal court, Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced May to 210 months in prison, 20 years supervised release, and lifetime sex offender registration. Prosecutors sought 20 years, citing his “abusive distribution scheme” that revictimized hundreds and his hypocrisy. Federal guidelines suggested 17-22 years. The judge stressed the deep, perpetual harm to victims from shared files.
May’s defense blamed pornography addiction worsened by testosterone treatments, his abusive upbringing, and personal trauma. He apologized in a letter, noting his wife left and family suffered. Relatives submitted seven supportive letters highlighting his academic achievements. Victims’ statements emphasized lifelong trauma. May owes $58,500 restitution.
Consequences and Broader Fallout
May resigned early 2025 amid charges, pleaded guilty September 30, 2025, to five counts. He now faces immediate imprisonment, missing his children’s events, financial ruin, and permanent loss of voting and gun rights—core freedoms for any citizen. South Carolina Republicans lose a vocal ally on family values, fueling leftist attacks on conservative child safety stands. Similar regional cases underscore federal crackdowns.
Lessons for Conservative Leadership
This case spotlights the dangers of personal failings undermining public trust. True child protection demands integrity in private life matching rhetoric against woke threats like gender experiments on youth. Federal enforcement via platforms like Kik proves effective against predators. Conservatives must demand higher standards from leaders to shield families from government overreach and cultural decay. Victims’ ongoing pain reinforces why distribution penalties stay severe.
Sources:
Prosecutors want 20-year sentence for ex-South Carolina lawmaker for sharing child sex abuse videos
GOP lawmaker trans attacks CSAM conviction
Former SC Lawmaker Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material
