Another South Carolina Official Arrested in Child Porn Sting

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

by WILL FOLKS

***

Federal authorities descended upon the Hanahan, South Carolina residence of sitting city councilman and mayor pro tempore Kevin Hedgpeth early Tuesday morning (April 14, 2026) to serve a warrant in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation.

Details regarding the nature of the investigation were not immediately clear, but sources on the scene indicated there was a heavy federal law enforcement presence at Hedgpeth’s home.

Take a look…

***

***

UPDATE | FEDS DETAIL GRAPHIC ALLEGATIONS AGAINST LOWCOUNTRY OFFICIAL

***

Agencies involved in the execution of the warrant included Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), with initial reports indicating Hedgpeth was being investigated in connection with allegations related to the production and possession of graphic child sex abuse material (a.k.a. CSAM).

“It’s bad,” a source familiar with the details of the investigation confirmed to FITSNews.

Asked whether the allegations against Hedgpeth were on par with the shockingly depraved activity allegedly perpetrated by disgraced former Charleston County magistrate James B. “Skipper” Gosnell Jr. – who was arrested last fall on CSAM charges – we got a troubling answer.

“Yes, I believe it’s worse than Gosnell,” the source indicated.

Based on initial reports, there could be as many as three dozen victims – most of them local boys and girls – tied to the ongoing investigation into Hedgpeth, who was taken into federal custody during the search of his residence.

***

RELATED | DISGRACED JUDGE’S BID TO EXCLUDE EVIDENCE DENIED

***

Hedgpeth is scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. district court magistrate Mary Gordon Baker at 12:15 p.m. EDT at the federal courthouse in downtown Charleston, S.C. Prosecutors Dean Secor and Elliott Daniels from the office of U.S. attorney Bryan Stirling will be handling the case for the government. It is not immediately clear whether Hedgpeth has obtained representation.

At that hearing, prosecutors are expected to provide initial details on the allegations against Hedgpeth – unless the councilman waives the reading of the charges filed against him.

Federal agents arrived at Hedgpeth’s home at approximately 6:10 a.m. EDT on Tuesday morning and began immediately seizing evidence in connection with a criminal complaint leveled against the local elected official.

“Boxes (are) being carried out,” a witness to the law enforcement activity confirmed.

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Hedgpeth moved to Hanahan in 2009 and was elected to city council in 2018. He was reelected in 2022 and is up for a third term this November. He and his wife, Angela Hedgpeth, have two young son and are active in their local Christian congregation, Yeamans Park Presbyterian Church.

His official bio describes him as being active in the Hanahan Exchange Club, a group which focuses in part on local “youth programs” and just last week posted on its social media about April being child abuse prevention month.

Hedgpeth will remain in custody pending a formal hearing on his detention status – which is likely to be held this Friday (April 17, 2026) in Charleston.

This is a developing story… please check back for updates.

***

THE COMPLAINT…

(U.S. District Court/Charleston, S.C.)

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.

***

WANNA SOUND OFF?

Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to address proactively? We have an open microphone policy! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.