LEXINGTON (SC)
WIS 10 [Columbia, SC]
November 4, 2026
By Michael Owens
An ex-pastor and worship musician in the Midlands appeared in federal court on Wednesday after being indicted on child sex charges.
Richard Channing Shealy, 54, was indicted Oct. 28 on multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Shealy appeared for an arraignment on Wednesday alongside his attorneys. He pleaded not guilty and waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Federal indictment
The allegations in the federal indictment date back to 2004 and involve a single underage victim that Shealy “had access to.” On four occasions between 2004 and 2006, Shealy is accused of coercing the victim to “engage in sexually explicit conduct” that was photographed.
Prosecutors also allege Shealy used a peer-to-peer file-sharing network called eDonkey in February 2026 to distribute illicit images to another user, and possessed material involving a “prepubescent minor” through late March 2026.
The following month, Shealy was found with child sexual abuse material that documents state involved a “prepubescent minor.”
Further background
Shealy was first arrested in March and faced 13 state counts that ranged from second-degree and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to warrants on those charges, Shealy allegedly shared files containing child sexual abuse material over the internet three different times in February.
They also stated he had 10 other files containing child sexual abuse material in his possession during a search.
He would later be released on bond, but was arrested again in May on 20 additional counts after evidence was found during a search of his home.
According to warrants from his May arrest, the additional counts stem from alleged incidents spanning from 2004 to 2006 involving victims ranging from five to eight years old.
He is accused of taking photos of each instance.
Shealy was booked back into jail and denied bond.
Career as a pastor and musician
After his first arrest, WIS discovered that Shealy hosted a website where he accepted bookings as a worship musician. It also stated that he previously served as a worship pastor in Lexington-area churches.
The website has since been taken down.
What’s next
As of Wednesday, no further federal court dates have been scheduled in Shealy’s case.
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