Ex-Lawmaker Faces 20 Years?! South Carolina Stunned!

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The hypocrisy meter is hitting new highs in South Carolina. Remember RJ May? The former Republican lawmaker who preached family values and Child protection is now facing a potential 20-year prison sentence for distributing child sex abuse videos. Yes, you read that right. The very man who championed laws to shield kids is now accused of exploiting their abuse online.

Ex-Lawmaker Faces 20 Years?! South Carolina Stunne...

Prosecutors are pulling no punches, demanding the maximum sentence for May, who pleaded guilty back in September. They allege he sent hundreds of these sickening videos across the country. The details, frankly, are stomach-churning. May, apparently using the handle "joebidennnn69" (seriously?), allegedly exchanged 220 files depicting the abuse of toddlers and young children on the Kik social media platform.

May, 39, is begging Judge Cameron McGowan Currie for leniency, pleading for a five-year sentence instead. His defense? An addiction to pornography, supposedly fueled by testosterone treatments. He even has the audacity to suggest he could be a "positive example" by warning others about the dangers of porn. It's a bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it pays off. Judge Currie is set to hear arguments this Wednesday in a federal courtroom, just a stone's throw from the South Carolina House where May once held court.

Prosecutors are painting a stark picture. "May operated an abusive and degrading Child pornography distribution scheme that harmed and continues to harm hundreds of children," they stated in their brief, arguing for the full 20 years. "He chose to amplify and compound their abuse." They're not mincing words, and frankly, it's hard to disagree with their assessment. The sheer depravity of the alleged actions is, well, hard to wrap your head around.

May's defense team, while seeking a lesser sentence, hasn't specified exactly what they're aiming for. May himself expressed remorse in a letter, claiming he'll miss milestones in his children's lives. He also had family members submit letters highlighting a difficult childhood and his academic achievements – including a Clinton Scholarship to study in Dubai. His father even offered him a place to live and work on his farm after release. It's a classic plea for mitigation, but will it resonate with the judge?

However, prosecutors are armed with statements from victims, emphasizing the ongoing trauma caused by these videos continuing to circulate online. That's a powerful counterweight to any claims of remorse or potential rehabilitation. And let's not forget, on top of any prison sentence, May faces a lifetime of registering as a sex offender, a $72,000 restitution bill, and the loss of his voting rights and ability to own a firearm.

It's a stunning fall from grace for a man who, just months ago, was lecturing his colleagues about morality and the protection of children. As May himself once said, "We as legislators have an obligation to insure that our children have no harm done to them." The irony, it seems, is completely lost on him.