"A former South Carolina Republican lawmaker and member of the ultra-Conservative Freedom Caucus, who supported drag and trans healthcare bans "to protect childhood innocence", has been handed a nearly two decade prison sentence for distributing vile child sexual abuse material."
"On Wednesday (14 January), May was handed a 17.5 year sentence in federal prison by US District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, a term that was slightly less than the 20 years prosecutors requested but much longer than the five years the former lawmaker requested for himself. Currie said May was given a higher sentence than the average for similar charges because the content he disseminated was the "most severe the court had seen"."
"Following his release from prison, May will have to spend another 20 years under supervised release, with federal parole officers monitoring his actions to be sure he doesn't reoffend. He was also ordered to pay $58,500 in restitution to eight victims who the authorities identified and will be required to register as a sex offender for life."
Robert John "RJ" May III, 38, resigned from the South Carolina House after his August 2025 arrest on 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material and later pleaded guilty. He had represented the 88th district since November 2020. On 14 January, a judge sentenced him to 17.5 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, ordered $58,500 restitution to eight victims, and lifetime registration as a sex offender. The judge said the disseminated content was the most severe the court had seen. May had publicly opposed gender-affirming care, trans inclusion in sports, and drag performances.
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