A federal jury in Columbia, South Carolina, has found Daniel Paul Shealy, a former Rock Hill police officer, guilty on 18 counts related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The verdict came after three days of testimony and an hour and a half of jury deliberation.
The investigation began in 2023 when the York County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about flagged videos on the social messaging app Kik. These videos depicted child sexual abuse under the username "orgasmd0nor." Authorities traced this account to Shealy, who was then serving as a detective with the Rock Hill Police Department.
Further evidence showed that Shealy was involved in over 40 private groups on Kik designed for trading child sexual abuse materials. A representative from Kik testified that these groups often shared images and videos involving severe abuse. Investigators executed a search warrant on Shealy's phone and Kik account, recovering 126 explicit videos of children.
During his testimony, Shealy admitted to operating the "orgasmd0nor" account and accessing illicit material but claimed he did not report it due to privacy concerns or lack of knowledge about reporting procedures. He was taken into custody following his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling stated: “The facts alone in this case were disturbing but became even more appalling because the defendant was a police officer, an individual given immense public trust.” Reid Davis from the FBI Columbia Field Office added: “We hope this verdict represents a meaningful step toward justice for the victims.”
Shealy faces five to twenty years in federal prison, fines up to $250,000, restitution payments, lifetime supervision post-imprisonment, and sex offender registry requirements. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. will sentence him after reviewing a report by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at combating child exploitation since 2006. It marshals resources across federal, state, and local levels to prosecute offenders like Shealy.
The investigation involved collaboration between several agencies including the FBI Columbia field office and South Carolina's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at the Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Elle E. Klein are leading prosecution efforts.