Crime & Safety
Lexington, SC Former Pastor Indicted on 9 Federal Child Sex Charges
Lexington, SC – A former Lexington pastor is facing nine federal charges involving child sexual abuse material following an investigation that uncovered alleged online distribution and evidence of abu
By Lauren Beckett · 2026-10-22T15:03:39.922Z
Lexington, SC – A former Lexington pastor is facing nine federal charges involving child sexual abuse material following an investigation that uncovered alleged online distribution and evidence of abuse dating back approximately two decades.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina, a federal grand jury in Columbia indicted Richard Channing Shealy, 54, of Lexington, on charges involving the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Federal Investigation Uncovers Alleged Abuse
Federal prosecutors allege that in February 2026, Shealy shared child sexual abuse material with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations agent through a peer to peer file sharing network.
Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for Shealy's residence, where authorities allegedly discovered additional illegal material on his computer.
Among the files recovered were images prosecutors allege depicted a child Shealy abused in 2004 and 2006.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Former Pastor Faces Significant Prison Exposure
According to federal prosecutors, Shealy faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each of four production counts.
The distribution and possession charges carry potential maximum sentences of up to 20 years.
He also faces possible fines of up to $250,000 per count.
The indictment contains nine counts, but prosecutors have not announced a conviction or sentence.
Multiple Agencies Investigated Case
Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Attorney General's Office and the Lexington County Sheriff 's Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the matter.
Officials said the investigation falls under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on combating child sexual exploitation and identifying victims.
Shealy is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt