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A civil lawsuit has been filed against a South Carolina-based attorney facing tied to the alleged sexual exploitation of minors – and to allegations of voyeurism.
William Daniel Mayes, 54, was arrested last fall by investigators with the S.C. attorney general’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force and the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO). The arrest came after investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
While investigating the tip, investigators determined Mayes had recorded a person without their consent – and possessed files of child sexual abuse material (or “CSAM”), more commonly known as child pornography.
Days after his arrest, the S.C. Supreme Court suspended his law license indefinitely (.pdf)
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RELATED | JURY AWARDS $45 MILLION IN AIRBNB VOYEURISM TRIAL
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The civil case against Mayes and his wife – Shanon Mayes – was filed in Aiken County on Tuesday (January 7, 2025) by Columbia, S.C. attorney Debbie Barbier on behalf of Chloe Kaplan, who was a guest at a Folly Beach rental property owned by the couple.
According to the complaint, the investigation of Mayes began in October 2024 when his Dropbox account was flagged after images suspected to be child pornography were discovered. Shortly thereafter, investigators executed a search warrant on Mayes’ personal residence in Aiken and discovered “numerous video recordings of nude people and children who were in a rental property” owned by the Mayes.
When questioned, Mayes “admitted setting up cameras to record people” and confirmed that “he possessed a Dropbox account where officers located hundreds of videos.” The complaint stated among those videos were videos of Kaplan “naked and undressing while staying in (Mayes’) rental property.”
Mayes was charged with five counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of voyeurism in Aiken County. On October 30, 2024, Aiken county magistrate judge Lauren Maurice set a $5,000 personal recognizance bond for Mayes.
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Mayes — who is represented by Columbia-based attorney Alexandra Benevento and co-counsel Shaun Kent in his criminal matters — was arrested again on December 6, 2024 in Charleston County and charged with fourteen counts of first degree voyeurism and one count of first degree sexual exploitation of a minor. He was released after posting a $260,000 surety bond set by Charleston County magistrate Joy Stoney.
Barbier is no stranger to these types of cases. In September, her clients won a $45 million verdict against Rhett Riviere – a wealthy Airbnb voyeur from Aiken – after they were surreptitiously recorded at one of Riviere’s South Carolina rental properties in 2001.
“Hidden cameras in short-term rental properties are a profound threat to everyone’s right to privacy,” Barbier noted at the time.
Stay tuned to this media outlet for pertinent updates related to this case as it moves forward…
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THE COMPLAINT…
(S.C. Second Circuit)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Jenn Wood is FITSNews’ incomparable research director. She’s also the producer of the FITSFiles and Cheer Incorporated podcasts and leading expert on all things Murdaugh/ South Carolina justice. A former private investigator with a criminal justice degree, evildoers beware, Jenn Wood is far from your average journalist! A deep dive researcher with a passion for truth and a heart for victims, this mom of two is pretty much a superhero in FITSNews country. Did we mention she’s married to a rocket scientist? (Lucky guy!) Got a story idea or a tip for Jenn? Email her at jenn@fitsnews.com.
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