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https://scdailygazette.com/2025/09/29/former-rep-rj-may-pleads-guilty-to-sending-disgusting-and-depraved-child-sex-abuse-videos/
COLUMBIA — Former Rep. RJ May told a federal judge Monday that he used an account under the name joebidennnn69 to send videos of children being sexually abused.
May, acting as his own attorney, signed a plea agreement last week, more than three months after his arrest on charges of sending child sexual abuse videos. Monday’s hearing formally changed his plea from not guilty to guilty, waiving his right to a jury trial.
The West Columbia Republican will remain in the Edgefield County jail until his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 14.
The 38-year-old’s plea agreement applied to five of the 10 videos with which he was charged. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining five counts. Each count could bring a sentence of five to 20 years, along with a fine of up to $250,000, plus more than $40,000 in other fees. Federal inmates can’t receive parole.
A portion of the fine will go to children depicted in the more than 220 videos identified on the Kik account May said he operated. Through other cases, investigators have identified 21 of the 62 children in the videos, said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling.
Many of the same videos appear in multiple cases as people trade them around, Stirling said.
“Every download revictimizes these children and fuels this evil industry,” he said.
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie will determine how much will go to the identified victims, who live worldwide.
A federal probation officer will prepare a report recommending a sentence, but Currie will have the ultimate decision over how much prison time May serves and how much money he owes. Currie will consider the plea agreement, as well as the dismissed charges, when deciding the sentence, she said Monday.
COLUMBIA — Former Rep. RJ May told a federal judge Monday that he used an account under the name joebidennnn69 to send videos of children being sexually abused.
May, acting as his own attorney, signed a plea agreement last week, more than three months after his arrest on charges of sending child sexual abuse videos. Monday’s hearing formally changed his plea from not guilty to guilty, waiving his right to a jury trial.
The West Columbia Republican will remain in the Edgefield County jail until his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 14.
The 38-year-old’s plea agreement applied to five of the 10 videos with which he was charged. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining five counts. Each count could bring a sentence of five to 20 years, along with a fine of up to $250,000, plus more than $40,000 in other fees. Federal inmates can’t receive parole.
A portion of the fine will go to children depicted in the more than 220 videos identified on the Kik account May said he operated. Through other cases, investigators have identified 21 of the 62 children in the videos, said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling.
Many of the same videos appear in multiple cases as people trade them around, Stirling said.
“Every download revictimizes these children and fuels this evil industry,” he said.
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie will determine how much will go to the identified victims, who live worldwide.
A federal probation officer will prepare a report recommending a sentence, but Currie will have the ultimate decision over how much prison time May serves and how much money he owes. Currie will consider the plea agreement, as well as the dismissed charges, when deciding the sentence, she said Monday.
