Columbia, SC – On December 13, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina reported the indictment of a former Rock Hill Police Department officer on serious charges related to child sexual abuse materials. Daniel Shealy, 35, from Rock Hill, faces an 18-count indictment delivered by a federal grand jury in Columbia. The charges include 12 counts of distribution and six counts of receipt of child sexual abuse materials.
According to the indictment details, Shealy is accused of using a social media account and a cellular device found in his department-issued patrol car for both distributing and receiving child sex abuse materials. The indictment specifies that between June 2 and September 17, 2023, Shealy allegedly distributed 13 videos and received six videos depicting child sexual abuse. These videos varied in length from five seconds to one minute and 43 seconds.
Shealy’s career with the Rock Hill Police Department began in January 2011. He initially served on patrol until his transfer to South Pointe High School as a school resource officer in August 2017. His most recent assignment before termination was in the criminal investigations division, starting on June 5, 2023.
The police department has stated that there is no evidence suggesting any of these alleged activities occurred while Shealy was on duty. However, the gravity of the charges is underscored by the potential penalties: each count carries a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. Additionally, Shealy faces possible lifetime federal supervision, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and monetary penalties.
Currently detained pending trial after waiving his right to a bond, Shealy retains the option to request a bond at a later date. This case forms part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative aimed at protecting children from online exploitation and abuse, involving coordination among federal, state, and local authorities to tackle Internet-based child exploitation.
The DOJ press release is available here.
