Federal judge decries betrayal of trust; ex‑legislator to serve long sentence, register as sex offender for life
By PSA Newsroom Staff
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal court has delivered a lengthy prison sentence to a former South Carolina lawmaker for his role in distributing child sexual abuse material, a crime that victims’ advocates and prosecutors called a profound abuse of trust.
On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Robert John “RJ” May III, 39, of West Columbia — once a Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives — was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison (equivalent to 17½ years) after pleading guilty to five counts of distributing child sexual abuse material.
Judge Cameron McGowan Currie emphasized the extreme severity of the materials May distributed — noting it was among the worst she had seen in similar cases — and imposed a sentence beyond the average guideline range.
In addition to his prison term, May will:
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- Serve 20 years of supervised release after incarceration
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- Register as a sex offender for life
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- Pay tens of thousands of dollars in restitution to identified victims
Federal prosecutors detailed how May used a social messaging app to transmit hundreds of videos involving the sexual abuse of infants and young children to recipients across multiple states and several countries.
Prosecutors and law enforcement officials noted May’s actions compounded the harm to already-abused children and served as a stark reminder that no one is above the law — regardless of their title or position.
May Sought Leniency, Cited “Addiction” in Letter to Judge
In a seven-page letter submitted Monday, May asked the court to impose a five-year prison sentence, followed by “a significant period of home confinement.” In the letter, he acknowledged his criminal behavior and described what he called his “addiction” to child pornography.
He wrote that one day he hopes to educate others struggling with the same urges, saying he wants to warn pedophiles about the dangers of acting on such compulsions.
“Whether through indifference or want of education, I was ignorant to the continuing harms posed by child sex abuse material. If I am honest with myself and the Court, I had an addiction to screens and pornography. It was more serious than I thought and led to a horrible place I never imagined it would go. For that, I am deeply sorry,” May wrote.
Despite his appeal for leniency, the court rejected May’s request, emphasizing the gravity of the crimes and the profound harm inflicted on victims.
Public Safety Note:
Distributing, possessing, or sharing child sexual abuse material is a federal crime with severe criminal penalties and lifelong consequences. If you encounter suspected material, report it immediately to law enforcement or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
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