SOUTH CAROLINA- Possession and production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
We regret to inform you about another GOP member caught up in CSAM. The District of South Carolina released a statement that according to a criminal complaint and arrest warrant unsealed recently, Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth, 48, City of Hanahan Mayor Pro Tem and member of City Council, has been charged with possession and production of child sexual abuse material.
The justice.gov release also states that according to the charging document, which was authorized by United States Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker, an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) identified Hedgpeth as a member of a forum on social media that was facilitating the sale of child sexual abuse material.
Further investigation revealed that Hedgpeth has paid numerous minors who have been identified as likely victims of child sex abuse in CyberTips submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. From December 2021 to present, Hedgpeth’s Cash App and PayPal accounts paid 47 accounts that were either associated with minors or suspected of selling content. The accounts Hedgpeth paid include minors in the Charleston, South Carolina area.
Further investigation revealed that videos and images depicting child sexual abuse were stored in an iCloud account registered to Hedgpeth’s personal e-mail address, his cellular phone, and his home address, and that the account had been accessed frequently from his home internet router.
We are in high hopes this Republican will not be publicly stating he is in the “family values” category any longer, as he has not demonstrated such a virtue during his tenure on City Council.
COURT DOCUMENTS
South Carolina District Federal Case numbers:2:26-mj-00020 and 2:2026mj00445 which are on-going as of 7/17/2036.
Download the entire court document here https://www.scribd.com/document/1026397884/US-v-Hedgpeth-Unsealed-Complaint#download&from_embed
DOCKET
| Date Filed | # | Docket Text |
| 04/13/2026 | 1 | MOTION to Seal by USA as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/13/2026) |
| 04/13/2026 | 2 | ORDER granting 1 Motion to Seal as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth (1). Signed by Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on 4/13/2026.(cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/13/2026) |
| 04/13/2026 | 3 | SEALED COMPLAINT as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth (1). (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit) (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/13/2026) |
| 04/14/2026 | 6 | MOTION to Unseal Case by USA as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/14/2026) |
| 04/14/2026 | 7 | ORDER granting 6 Motion to Unseal Case as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth (1). Signed by Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on 4/14/2026.(cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/14/2026) |
| 04/14/2026 | 8 | Arrest of Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. Clerk notified by: USMS. (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/14/2026) |
| 04/14/2026 | 9 | NOTICE OF HEARING as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth Initial Appearance set for 4/14/2026 12:15 PM in Charleston Courtroom #6, U. S. Court House, 85 Broad St, Charleston before Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker. (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/14/2026) |
| 04/14/2026 | 11 | CJA 23 Financial Affidavit (Restricted Access) by Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/14/2026) |
| 04/14/2026 | 12 | PROVISIONAL TEXT ORDER APPOINTING FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. Charles William Cochran for Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. Signed by Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on 4/14/2026.(cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/14/2026) |
| 04/14/2026 | 13 | Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker: Initial Appearance as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth held on 4/14/2026. AUSA Dean Secor appears for USA. Court provisionally appoints the FPD office for defendant; AFPD Charlie Cochran present with that office. Court reviews the FRCrP Rule 5 Disclosure and directs that a written copy be filed. Government moves for detention. Preliminary and Detention hearing to be scheduled. Court Reporter Elena Graham, Courtsmart. (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/14/2026) |
| 04/14/2026 | 14 | FRCrP 5(f) DISCLOSURE ORDER as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. Signed by Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on 4/14/2026.(cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/14/2026) |
| 04/14/2026 | 15 | NOTICE OF HEARING as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth Preliminary Hearing and Detention Hearing set for 4/20/2026 10:00 AM in Charleston Courtroom #6, U. S. Court House, 85 Broad St, Charleston before Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker. (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/14/2026) |
| 04/20/2026 | 16 | Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker: Detention Hearing and Preliminary Hearing as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth held on 4/20/2026. AUSA Dean Secor appears for USA. AFPD Charlie Cochran present with defendant. Defendant waives preliminary hearing; waives detention hearing without prejudice. AFPD advised to file seal update of financial affidavit by end of the week. Court Reporter Doneshia Gardner, CourtSmart. (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/20/2026) |
| 04/20/2026 | 17 | WAIVER of Preliminary Hearing by Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth (cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/20/2026) |
| 04/20/2026 | 18 | ORDER OF DETENTION as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. Signed by Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on 4/20/2026.(cwhi, ) [2:26-mj-00020-MCRI] (Entered: 04/20/2026) |
| 05/13/2026 | 20 | INDICTMENT (Sealed Grand Jury Ballot attached) as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth (1) count(s) 1, 2-7, 8, 9-10, 11, 12-20, 21-23. (Attachments: # 1 GJ Ballot) (cwhi, ) (Entered: 05/14/2026) |
| 05/22/2026 | 24 | Case Reassigned as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth to Honorable Richard M Gergel. (bshr, ) (Entered: 05/22/2026) |
| 05/22/2026 | 25 | NOTICE OF HEARING as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth Arraignment set for 5/27/2026 10:00 AM in Charleston Courtroom #5, U. S. Court House, 85 Broad St, Charleston before Magistrate Judge Molly H Cherry. (cwhi, ) (Entered: 05/22/2026) |
| 05/22/2026 | 26 | NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE Elliott Bishop Daniels appearing for USA. (Daniels, Elliott) (Entered: 05/22/2026) |
| 05/27/2026 | 28 | Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Molly H Cherry: Arraignment as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth (1) Count 1,2-7,8,9-10,11,12-20,21-23 held on 5/27/2026. AUSA Dean Secor appears for USA. AFPD Charlie Cochran present with defendant. Defendant enters a not guilty plea. Government continues to seek Detention. Defendant continues to waive his Detention Hearing. Defendant remain detained. Court Reporter Remy Heinen, Courtsmart. (cwhi, ) (Entered: 05/27/2026) |
| 05/27/2026 | 29 | Not Guilty PLEA ENTERED as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth (cwhi, ) (Entered: 05/27/2026) |
| 05/27/2026 | 30 | ORDER GOVERNING DISCOVERY as to Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. Signed by Magistrate Judge Molly H Cherry on 5/27/2026.(cwhi, ) (Entered: 05/27/2026) |
| 05/28/2026 | 31 | MOTION for Disclosure of Intent to Use Evidence of Other Crimes by Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. No proposed order(Cochran, Charles) (Entered: 05/28/2026) |
| 05/28/2026 | 32 | MOTION for Leave to File Additional Motions by Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. No proposed order(Cochran, Charles) (Entered: 05/28/2026) |
| 05/28/2026 | 33 | MOTION for Discovery Inspection and Inventory by Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth. No proposed order(Cochran, Charles) (Entered: 05/28/2026) |
| 05/28/2026 | 34 | EDWARDS NOTICE by Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth (Cochran, Charles) (Entered: 05/28/2026) |
POLITICAL AFFILIATION
Kevin Phillip Hedgpeth became mayor pro tempore (Hanahan) by April 2026 (he was serving in that role at the time he was arrested and later resigned). He resigned on April 17, 2026 from both the council seat and as mayor pro tempore.
We found his profile on the city site in the Wayback Machine
We dug around and pulled up his voter history below to confirm our suspicions that this man is in fact a Republican sex predator.
Download entire vote record here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kd_7ziHbYudqLWOEGMR0i60KVRKn3XjH/view?usp=sharing
As we connect the dots we have a child sex predator voting for another child sex predator to be the most powerful man in the world, we ask what the fuck is going on in this country?
These are the times I am relieved that rethuglicans are generally stupid. This man made himself easy to find due to his ignorance, arrogance and stupidity by thinking himself above the law as he kept all the evidence so readily available to the authorities. iCloud attached to his personal email? Paying minors for CSA material using his PayPal account? Honestly you could not make this up.