News Summary
Daniel Paul Shealy, a former Rock Hill police officer, has been convicted on 18 charges related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Revealed after an investigation prompted by a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, authorities discovered numerous videos implicating Shealy, who was a school resource officer. He faces a minimum sentence of five years and possible lifetime supervision following his conviction.
Columbia – Former Rock Hill Police officer Daniel Paul Shealy has been convicted on 18 charges related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The verdict, delivered by a federal jury in Columbia, was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina on May 8, 2025. The jury reached this decision following three days of testimony and only an hour and a half of deliberation.
Shealy, 36 years old, came under scrutiny after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children prompted an investigation by the York County Sheriff’s Office. In December 2023, authorities were alerted to three videos on the messaging application Kik that featured child sexual abuse. The videos were linked to a user operating under the profile name “orgasmd0nor.”
Investigators traced the Kik account and IP address back to Shealy, who had been serving as a detective and school resource officer at South Pointe High School. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Shealy was a member of over 40 private Kik groups that appeared to be dedicated to exchanging child sexual abuse material, some of which involved references to minors, teens, and incest.
Upon commencing their investigation, authorities executed a search warrant on Shealy’s phone and Kik account. Shealy’s phone, which unlocked through his thumbprint and badge number passcode, was found in his patrol car. During the search, agents uncovered 126 videos of explicit content involving children on his devices, indicating both possession and distribution of such material.
On September 28, 2023, Shealy was arrested by York County deputies and subsequently held without bond. During the trial, he admitted to operating the “orgasmd0nor” account and accessing unlawful material through the platform. However, Shealy claimed he did not report the videos to Kik or law enforcement due to a lack of knowledge on how to report them and concerns about his privacy.
U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling condemned Shealy’s actions as a significant betrayal of the public trust, highlighting the gravity of his misuse of power as a police officer. Following his conviction, Shealy was immediately taken into custody.
Shealy faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison. Additionally, he may incur a fine of up to $250,000, and upon release, will be subject to lifetime supervision and requirements to register as a sex offender. The presiding judge, U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr., will determine Shealy’s official sentencing at a future date.
Shealy was terminated from his position with the Rock Hill Police Department on the day of his arrest. He had been a member of the department since 2011. His actions have not only led to a severe criminal conviction but have also raised concerns about the integrity of law enforcement professionals across the state.
This case emphasizes the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces concerning online child exploitation and the imperative need for vigilance against such egregious acts, especially among individuals tasked with protecting the community.
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Additional Resources
- WSOCTV: Former police officer convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material
- WISTV: Former Columbia police officer accused of propositioning woman during arrest
- The Guardian: Columbia University police monitor pro-Palestinian protests
- Post and Courier: Sumter police officer arrested for assault
- Wikipedia: Child abuse material
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child abuse
- WLTX: Columbia police officer arrested and fired in misconduct investigation
- WACH: Columbia police announce arrest and termination of officer
- The State: Columbia police officer’s misconduct leads to arrest
- Google Search: Police misconduct
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