Key Highlights
- He said he wants a chance outside prison to be an example of how easily porn can destroy lives and families. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie will listen to both sides Wednesday before handing down her decision in a federal courtroom just blocks from where May used to be a member of the South Carolina House. May, 39, pleaded guilty in September to what prosecutors in court papers called a “five-day child pornography spree” in the spring of 2024. May, who resigned earlier this year, is accused of using the screen name “joebidennnn69” to exchange 220 different files of toddlers and young children on the Kik social media network, according to court documents that graphically detailed the videos. Prosecutors said May revictimized those children every time he shared a file.
- They said his crime showed extra hypocrisy as he voted eight times for laws protecting children or strengthening penalties for abusing them.“May operated an abusive and degrading child pornography distribution scheme that harmed and continues to harm hundreds of children.
- He sought out minors being sexually abused by their parents, and when he found those files, he sent them to others.
- He chose to amplify and compound their abuse,” prosecutors wrote in their brief asking for the 20-year sentence. Guidelines from federal probation officials call for a sentence between about 17 to 22 years for May. Defense attorneys are asking for less than that, but they did not make a specific request in court papers.
- May wrote a note to the judge saying he was sorry several times and asking for a five-year sentence, pointing out he will never watch his son's soccer games or have tea in his home with his daughter again. State Department warns US citizens to leave VenezuelaJan 11, 10:28 PMMinneapolis ICE shooting updates: Protests remain peaceful despite arrestsJan 10, 11:20 PMFBI releases images of seized motorcycles as search for Ryan Wedding continuesDec 30, 4:51 PM“My arrest marked the swift and total destruction of all my hopes and dreams.
