Former South Carolina state representative Robert John “R.J.” May III will plead guilty to five federal counts of distributing child sex abuse material, according to documents filed in federal court Friday.

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors will drop the other five counts of the same charge on which May was indicted.

A court hearing is scheduled for Monday in Columbia. May is expected to formally enter his plea at that time, and be sentenced at a later date.

He could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count, as well as fines and supervised release after the prison sentence.

May, a Lexington County Republican and former vice chair of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, resigned from the South Carolina House of Representatives in August. He submitted his resignation

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