Former South Carolina lawmaker RJ May is headed to federal prison after the Lexington Republican pleaded guilty on Monday to five counts of distributing child sex abuse material.
May sat still, head down, as U.S. prosecutors read in graphic detail the files that May was accused of sharing through the messaging app Kik in April 2024.
As part of his guilty plea, May — a former state House representative who helped launch the hardline S.C. House Freedom Caucus — admitted he went by the “joebidennnn69” username on the Kik app to distribute child pornography.
May originally faced 10 counts, and was scheduled to go on trial in early October. May, who is not an attorney, was going to represent himself.
South Carolina U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling called the five charges, lowered as part of a plea agreement, the "worst of the worst."
"These actions by (Robert) John May are deplorable, depraved and disgusting," Stirling said in a post-court press conference.
Prosecutors said there are 62 known victims.
Stirling said the U.S. Attorney's Office has so far identified 21.
May faces five to 20 years in federal prison on each charge.
He will remain in the Edgefield County jail until his sentencing date, currently scheduled for Jan. 14, 2026 — the second day of the 2026 South Carolina legislative session.
A special election will be held Dec. 23 to fill May's former Republican-leaning District 88 seat.
Five candidates — four Republicans and one Democrat — have filed to run:
- Brian Duncan, Republican
- Lorelei Graye, Republican
- Joseph "Chuck" Hightower, Democrat
- John Lastinger, Republican
- Darren Ernest Rogers Sr., Republican
Early voting for the Oct. 1 primary runs from Oct. 6-17.
Early voting for the Nov. 4 Republican runoff, if necessary, will be Oct. 29-31.
Whoever wins the GOP primary will face Hightower in December.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.
