Republican who said trans healthcare ‘harms’ kids gets lengthy sentence for child sex abuse imagery

A former South Carolina Republican lawmaker and member of the ultra-Conservative Freedom Caucus, who supported drag and trans healthcare bans “to protect childhood innocence”, has been handed a nearly two decade prison sentence for distributing vile child sexual abuse material.

Robert John May III, known as ‘RJ’ , 38, had represented the state’s 88th district in the House of Representatives since November 2020 but resigned from his seat in August 2025 after he was arrested and charged two months earlier with 10 counts of distributing sexual abuse material involving children. In September, May subsequently pleaded guilty to the charges.

During his time in office May was outspoken against gender-affirming care, trans inclusion in sports and drag performances, and was listed as a speaker at Mom’s for Liberty’s Reclaiming Education in America event in 2022. Many of his concerns about LGBTQ+ topics were cited in regards to child safety.

On Wednesday (14 January), May was handed a 17.5 year sentence in federal prison by US District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, a term that was slightly less than the 20 years prosecutors requested but much longer than the five years the former lawmaker requested for himself.

Currie said May was given a higher sentence than the average for similar charges because the content he disseminated was the “most severe the court had seen”.

Following his release from prison, May will have to spend another 20 years under supervised release, with federal parole officers monitoring his actions to be sure he doesn’t reoffend. He was also ordered to pay $58,500 in restitution to eight victims who the authorities identified and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

“He was elected to make a positive impact on his community, but instead he exploited the most innocent and vulnerable in our society. This is simply inexcusable,” attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina said following May’s sentencing.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and prosecute those who harm children.”

Kyle D. Burns, acting special agent in charge of HSI in North Carolina and South Carolina, described those who exploit and abuse children as the “most reprehensible offenders in our society”, stating May’s sentencing “sends a clear message: no one is above the law, regardless of their position or title”.

“HSI is unwavering in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on children,” Burns continued.

“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who commit these horrific crimes are brought to justice and held fully accountable for their actions.”

• Dec 01 2023

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