Latest news with #LexingtonCounty
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Republican in South Carolina arrested over distribution of child sexual abuse material
A Republican member of South Carolina's state house whom prosecutors say used the screen name 'joebidennnn69' has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of distributing sexual abuse material involving children. RJ May was arrested at his Lexington county home after a lengthy investigation and was ordered Thursday by a federal judge to remain jailed until his trial. The three-term Republican is accused of using 'joebidennnn69' to exchange 220 files of toddlers and young children involved in sex acts on the Kik social media network for about five days in spring 2024, according to court documents that graphically detailed the videos. During that timeframe, Joe Biden was in the final year of his presidency before May's fellow Republican Donald Trump won the November 2024 election to return to the White House in January. Each charge against May carries a five-to-20-year prison sentence upon conviction. Prosecutors suggested May could spend more than a decade in prison if found guilty. The files at the center of the case were uploaded and downloaded using May's home wifi network and his cellphone, prosecutors said. Some were hidden by the use of a private network, but others were directly linked to his internet addresses. At his arraignment, May's lawyer suggested someone could have used the wifi password that was shown on a board behind a photo May's wife may have posted online. Attorney Dayne Phillips also suggested investigators didn't link each Kik message directly to May. Prosecutors asked that May, 38, not be given bail because he lives at home with his wife and young children, and some of the files he is accused of sharing feature children of about the same age as his. Prosecutors said they also investigated whether May had used a fake name to travel to Colombia three times after finding videos on his laptop of him allegedly having sex with three girls or women. An agent from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) testified the three appeared to be underage and were paid. Agents have not been able to locate the three. Prosecutors said May created a Facebook account with his fake name, and his internet history showed him switching between his real account and the fake one – and even searching his primary opponent from the fake login. Phillips, May's lawyer, told the courtroom that no sexual images of toddlers or young children were found directly on his laptop or cellphone. After spending the night in jail, May appeared in court Thursday in shorts and a T-shirt with his wrists and ankles in cuffs. After being ordered to stay in jail, he appeared to blow a kiss to his wife, who was at the hearing. After May's election in 2020, he helped create the Freedom caucus, a group of the house's most conservative members who say mainstream Republicans in the chamber aren't the true conservative heart of their party. He also helped the campaigns of Republicans running against the party's house incumbents. 'We as legislators have an obligation to insure that our children have no harm done to them,' May said in January 2024 on the house floor during a debate on transgender care for minors. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion His son charmed the house in April 2021 when May brought him to visit for his third birthday, and the boy practiced his parade wave around the chamber. The Freedom caucus released a statement Wednesday night saying they'd kicked May out of their group after his arrest. Many of his one-time friends distanced themselves from May as rumors of the investigation spread through the South Carolina statehouse. During the current session, he could largely be seen at his corner desk in the back of the 124-seat chamber, mixing with very few colleagues. The house speaker suspended May from his seat after the indictment. May's lawyer suggested he could have been framed and asked the DHS agent if she knew that May had a lot of political enemies. 'There are a fair amount of people who don't like me either, Mr Phillips,' agent Britton Lorenzen replied. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453 or visit their website for more resources and to report child abuse or DM for help. For adult survivors of child abuse, help is available at In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Prosecutors say Republican South Carolina lawmaker used ‘joebidennnn69' to send child sex material
COLUMBIA, South Carolina: A Republican member of the South Carolina House who prosecutors say used the screen name 'joebidennnn69' has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of distributing sexual abuse material involving children. RJ May was arrested at his Lexington County home after a lengthy investigation and was ordered Thursday by a federal judge to remain jailed until his trial. The three-term Republican is accused of using 'joebidennnn69' to exchange 220 different files of toddlers and young children involved in sex acts on the Kik social media network for about five days in spring 2024, according to court documents that graphically detailed the videos. Each charge carries a five-to-20 year prison sentence upon conviction and prosecutors suggested May could spend over a decade in prison if found guilty. The files were uploaded and downloaded using May's home Wi-Fi network and his cellphone, prosecutors said. Some were hidden by the use of a private network but others were directly linked to his Internet addresses. May says someone else could have used his Wi-Fi At his arraignment, May's lawyer suggested someone could have used the Wi-Fi password that was shown on a board behind a photo May's wife may have posted online. Attorney Dayne Phillips also suggested investigators didn't link each Kik message directly to May. Prosecutors asked that May, 38, not be given bail because he lives at home with his wife and young children, and some of the files he is accused of sharing feature children of about the same age as his. May investigated for paid sex in Colombia Prosecutors said they also investigated whether May used a fake name to travel to Colombia three times after finding videos on his laptop of him allegedly having sex with three women. An agent from the Department of Homeland Security testified the women appeared to be underage and were paid. US agents have not been able to locate the women. Prosecutors said May created a Facebook account with his fake name and his Internet history showed him switching between his real account and the fake one and even searching his primary opponent from the fake login. Phillips, May's lawyer, told the courtroom that no sexual images of toddlers or young children were found directly on his laptop or cellphone. After spending the night in jail. May appeared in court Thursday in shorts and a T-shirt with his wrists and ankles in cuffs. After being ordered to stay in jail, he appeared to blow a kiss at his wife, who was at the hearing. May's political rise to the state House After May's election in 2020, he helped create the Freedom Caucus, a group of the House's most conservative members who say mainstream House Republicans aren't the true conservative heart of the GOP. He also helped the campaigns of Republicans running against GOP House incumbents. 'We as legislators have an obligation to insure that our children have no harm done to them,' May said in January 2024 on the House floor during a debate on transgender care for minors. His son charmed the House in April 2021 when May brought him to visit for his third birthday and the boy practiced his parade wave around the chamber. The Freedom Caucus released a statement Wednesday night saying they kicked May out of their group after his arrest. May spent a quiet 2025 House session Many of his onetime friends have distanced themselves from May as rumors of the investigation spread through the Statehouse. During the current session he could largely be seen at his corner desk in the back of the 124-seat chamber, mixing with very few colleagues. The House Speaker suspended May from his seat after the indictment. May's lawyer suggested he could have been framed and asked the Homeland Security agent if she knew that May had a lot of political enemies. 'There are a fair amount of people who don't like me either, Mr. Phillips,' agent Britton Lorenzen replied.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Republican South Carolina House member charged with distributing child sexual abuse material
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Republican South Carolina House member who prosecutors say used the screen name 'joebidennnn69' has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of distributing sexual abuse material involving children. RJ May was arrested Wednesday at his Lexington County home after a lengthy investigation and is scheduled to appear in federal court on Thursday. An indictment says the three-term Republican used several online names including 'joebidennnn69' to exchange files on the Kik social media network. The indictment didn't contain any additional details on the charges, which carry prison terms of five to 20 years upon conviction. May is a political consultant who has angered fellow House Republicans by running campaigns for candidates running against GOP incumbents in primaries. After his election in 2020, May helped create the Freedom Caucus, a group of the House's most conservative members who have run their own candidate against the Republican House speaker and refuse to join the Majority Caucus because they say it requires a loyalty pledge. The mainstream House Republicans aren't the true conservative heart of the GOP, the group said. The Freedom Caucus released a statement Wednesday night saying they kicked May out of their group after his arrest. May was one of the House's more vocal members after he arrived, frequently criticizing bills and discussing conservative amendments. 'We as legislators have an obligation to insure that out children have no harm done to them,' May said in January 2024 on the House floor during a debate on transgender care for minors. His oldest son charmed the House in April 2021 when May brought him to visit for his third birthday and the boy practiced his parade wave around the chamber. But that stopped in October, when federal prosecutors filed court papers saying the investigators seized a number of electronic devices from May, and they anticipated filing a criminal indictment. The documents provided no further details, but speculation has grown about the case. Many have distanced themselves from May, who during the current session could largely be seen at his corner desk in the back of the 124-seat chamber, mixing with very few colleagues.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lexington County home surrounded as police seek wanted man. What we know
Residents of a neighborhood in the West Columbia area reported hearing bangs and a police loud speaker Saturday morning. The Lexington County Sheriff's Department confirmed that it was among agencies on scene attempting to execute an arrest warrant for a man accused of domestic violence. In a standoff that was still ongoing Saturday afternoon, Lexington County Sheriff deputies, along with other law enforcement agencies, surrounded a home in the 2600 block of Crest Drive near Platt Springs Road in an effort to 'arrest a man wanted on charges associated with a domestic violence incident last night in Chapin,' Captain Adam Myrick of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department told The State in an email. While the identify of the man remains unknown, neighbors in the community began posting on Facebook Saturday morning that a 'major police barricade ... has been going on for hours.' Residents reported hearing loudspeakers and bangs and seeing dogs and other resources deployed on the scene. The sheriff's department didn't provide confirm any such specifics about the scene. 'Deputies and officers from other agencies have secured the immediate area around the scene to keep nearby homes and residents safe,' Myrick said. This is a breaking story and will be updated.
