A former GOP state lawmaker who went by the screen name “joebidennnn69” has pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material.
Prosecutors say RJ May III, 38, who resigned from the South Carolina House of Representatives, "exchanged more than 200 explicit files of toddlers and young children on the Kik social media app during several days in spring 2024," Newsweek reports.
May changed his plea in the weeks ahead of his trial's scheduled start, signing court papers Friday. He acted as his own attorney despite not having a law degree, and has been in custody since June when a judge refused to grant him bond.
He reportedly learned that prosecutors planned to present the evidence in his trial, which was previously slated to begin next month.
The former state representative asked the judge to throw out the warrant to search his residence, computer and mobile devices.
He will officially change his plea on Monday when he is scheduled to appear in federal court.
May was elected in 2020 and helped found the South Carolina Freedom Caucus.
He faces up to 20 years in federal prison with a minimum of five years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of at least five years of supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office District of South Carolina.