Categories: South Carolina News

Former South Carolina lawmaker RJ May seeks venue change in federal child sex abuse material trial

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) — A former South Carolina lawmaker accused of using a social messaging app to distribute child sexual material is seeking a change of venue for his upcoming federal trial.

RJ May was indicted on 10 federal counts in June following a more than one-year-long investigation into alleged child sexual exploitation crimes. He resigned his seat in the South Carolina House several months later, in August.

May, who is representing himself, is asking the court to grant him a change of venue, arguing he would not receive a fair and impartial trial due to extensive news coverage about the case.

“This pre-trial publicity has tainted the jury pool and prevented a fair trial,” May wrote in a handwritten motion filed Wednesday that included screenshots of dozens of news articles, including ones published by WCBD. “Due to the quanity [sic] and prejudicial quality of the press coverage, it is impossible for the defendant to receive a fair trial in the District of SC, Columbia Division.”

May is scheduled to go to trial next month, with jury selection slated to begin on October 8.

The change of venue motion is set to be heard on September 24 in Richland County.

This story is developing.

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