COLUMBIA, S.C. — A former Lexington pastor now faces federal charges after a grand jury in Columbia handed up a nine-count indictment tied to child sexual abuse material.
Richard Shealy, 54, is accused of producing, distributing and possessing the material. Federal prosecutors allege that, using a peer-to-peer network in February 2026, he sent files to an agent working undercover for Homeland Security Investigations.
A later warrant search of his home turned up more files on a computer, prosecutors said. Some showed a child that Shealy is accused of abusing in 2004 and 2006.
If convicted, he could get as much as 30 years behind bars on each of four production counts and 20 years on the other counts, and each count also carries a possible fine as high as $250,000.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department worked the case with Homeland Security Investigations and the state Attorney General’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina is prosecuting under Project Safe Childhood. An indictment is an accusation, and Shealy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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