News Summary
State Representative RJ May has been indicted on 10 counts related to the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Following his arrest, he has been suspended from duties. The investigation stemmed from a tip connected to the Kik messaging app, leading to the seizure of evidence from his property. May faces serious consequences, including potential prison time and fines. His case raises concerns over child safety and legislative integrity within the community.
Lexington, South Carolina – State Representative RJ May has been indicted on 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material, following federal court filings made public on Thursday. The charges carry serious potential consequences, including a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a minimum of 5 years, along with possible fines up to $250,000.
May, who represents District 88, was arrested on Wednesday in Lexington County. After a nearly two-hour arraignment and detention hearing, Judge Shiva Hodges ordered that he remain detained pending trial. This decision comes amid significant scrutiny and concern from the community and legislative body.
In light of the indictment, South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith has suspended May from his responsibilities within the South Carolina House of Representatives. The state law mandates the suspension of representatives indicted for specific felonies, which includes the charges against May, and they remain without pay until the resolution of their case.
The investigation into May began after a tip was received from the social messaging app Kik in April 2024. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged videos of child sexual abuse linked to the username “joebidennnn69.” Authorities discovered that at least 10 videos were transmitted from this account, which was traced back to May’s mobile device and home IP address. Furthermore, in August 2024, federal agents seized nearly three dozen devices belonging to May, including cellphones, hard drives, and thumb drives, to gather evidence.
Federal prosecutors initially sought additional time to analyze the evidence collected, indicating they expected to indict May by March 2025. Investigators revealed that May’s Kik account sent and received around 1,150 messages related to the trading of child sexual abuse material. The evidence presented in court documents suggested that May had a concerning interest in child sexual abuse and potential incest.
Several red flags were raised during the investigation, notably that May had deleted various messaging applications, including Kik, Telegram, and Mega, soon after the abusive content was uncovered. Furthermore, it was brought to light that May allegedly used an alias, “Eric Rentling,” for a Facebook account linked to his activities, which included arrangements potentially suggestive of sex work. There are also allegations that May may have traveled abroad for commercial sex activities, possibly without the knowledge of his spouse.
If convicted, May faces not only prison time but also a minimum of 5 years of supervised release. His legal troubles could lead to significant changes in his political career; if he is convicted, he will lose his seat in the House of Representatives. Conversely, if he is acquitted or if the charges are dismissed, he could be reinstated and receive back pay for the duration of his suspension.
May has been a member of the South Carolina House since being first elected to his District 88 seat in 2020. He most recently won re-election for a third term in November 2024. During his tenure, he became known as a founding member of the hardline conservative South Carolina Freedom Caucus, serving as the group’s vice chair until mid-2024.
Following the search of May’s property, leaders within the Freedom Caucus confirmed that he was suspended from the group. Although May was marked present throughout the 2025 legislative session, he did not actively participate in debates on the House floor.
U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling stated that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty and refrained from providing additional comments on the ongoing case. While the investigation is still underway, the impact of May’s indictment is being felt within the community, and concerns regarding child safety and legislative integrity have been raised.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- Live 5 News
- Wikipedia: Child Sexual Abuse
- WIS TV
- Google Search: RJ May
- The State
- Google Scholar: Child Sexual Abuse Material
- WLTX
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Abuse
- WRDW
- Google News: RJ May Arrest
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
