A federal jury in Columbia, South Carolina, has found Daniel Paul Shealy, a former detective and school resource officer with the Rock Hill Police Department, guilty on 18 counts related to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The verdict came after three days of testimony and approximately ninety minutes of jury deliberation.
The investigation began in 2023 when the York County Sheriff’s Office received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about videos flagged on the messaging app Kik under the username “orgasmd0nor.” The account was traced back to Shealy. Further examination revealed his involvement in over 40 private groups on Kik dedicated to trading child sexual abuse materials.
Testimony during the trial included statements from a Kik representative who explained that these groups often exchanged explicit content involving minors. A search warrant executed on Shealy's phone uncovered 126 explicit videos, which were either received or distributed by him.
Shealy admitted in court to operating the account and accessing illegal materials but claimed ignorance about reporting procedures. He was taken into custody immediately following the trial's conclusion.
U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling commented, “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 a minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison, along with possible fines and lifetime supervision post-imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. will determine his sentence after reviewing a report from 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 and abuse since 2006.
