South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced on March 26 the arrest of Richard Channing Shealy, age 53, who faces 13 charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors.
The case began when an investigator in the Attorney General’s Office identified files being shared online. The office then referred the matter to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, which carried out Shealy’s arrest. According to investigators, Shealy is accused of distributing and possessing files described as child sexual abuse material.
Shealy was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree and ten counts in the third degree. Each second-degree charge is a felony punishable by two to ten years imprisonment, while each third-degree charge carries up to ten years imprisonment. A bond hearing for Shealy was scheduled for March 26 at the Lexington County Detention Center. The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute this case.
Attorney General Wilson said, “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.” The announcement also noted that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is now used as a term instead of “child pornography” because it more accurately reflects the nature of these crimes and avoids implying consent by victims.
The South Carolina Attorney General supports victims through advocacy and resources aimed at community safety according to the official website. The office operates as South Carolina’s primary legal advocate and enforcer for prosecutions and regulations according to its official website. Alan Wilson serves as head of this statewide office according to its official website, which collaborates with law enforcement agencies across South Carolina according to its official website.
In addition, the Attorney General’s Office enforces laws related to securities and consumer protection matters across South Carolina according to its official website.
