Man Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges

AG: South Carolina News

Filed March 26th, 2026

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

The South Carolina Attorney General's Office announced the arrest of Richard Channing Shealy on 13 charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. Shealy faces charges for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material, with potential penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment per count.

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What changed

The South Carolina Attorney General's Office, in conjunction with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, has arrested Richard Channing Shealy, 53, on 13 felony charges related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The charges include three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree, and ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree. These offenses carry potential prison sentences of up to 10 years per count.

This enforcement action highlights the ongoing efforts to combat the distribution and possession of CSAM. Individuals facing such charges should be aware of the severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office, and Shealy is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A bond hearing was scheduled for March 26, 2026.

What to do next

Review internal policies and training related to child exploitation prevention and reporting.
Ensure compliance with all state and federal laws regarding the possession and distribution of CSAM.

Penalties

Felony offenses punishable by two to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

Source document (simplified)

MAR 26, 2026

Lexington County man arrested on 13 Child Sexual Abuse Material* charges

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Richard Channing Shealy, 53, on 13 charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors.

An investigator in the Attorney General’s Office initiated the case after seeing files shared online. The Attorney General’s Office referred the case to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, which made the arrest. Investigators state that Shealy distributed and possessed files of child sexual abuse material.

Shealy was arrested on March 26, 2026. He is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree (§16-15-405), a felony offense punishable by two to 10 years imprisonment on each count, and 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

He will have a bond hearing today at 3:00 p.m. at the Lexington County Detention Center.

This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Wilson stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

Child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, is a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes. "Pornography" can imply the child was a consenting participant. Globally, the term child pornography is being replaced by CSAM for this reason.

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