A Hanahan City Council member and mayor pro tempore, Kevin Hedgpeth, 48, was arrested and charged in federal court with possession and production of child sexual abuse material, including payments to minors in the Charleston area to create illicit content.

The city government and residents reacted with shock and concern as authorities disclosed the federal charges and the involvement of a public official.

The Department of Justice is asking the public for tips that could identify additional victims or help the investigation, with contact details provided in their statement.

The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbia and Homeland Security Investigations.

If Hedgpeth resigns or is suspended, a special election could be held, as investigators continue to work in this ongoing case.

Investigators traced activity from 2021 to 2024 involving about 47 accounts linked to minors or suspected of selling content, with several potential victims identified by tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Community leaders and residents voiced strong reactions; some urged privacy for Hedgpeth’s family while others called for empathy for victims.

An initial court hearing was held on the afternoon of April 14, 2026, and Hedgpeth remained in custody with a bail decision to be determined.

Authorities allege Hedgpeth used Cash App, Venmo, and a Roblox account to facilitate and conceal payments, and a trove of related material was found on an iCloud account registered to him.

If convicted, Hedgpeth faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison, plus lifetime supervision and sex offender registration; he was denied bond at the hearing.

Hanahan officials revoked Hedgpeth’s access to city hall and city resources and pledged cooperation with investigators while reviewing security and infrastructure measures.

The allegations include Hedgpeth communicating with minors, directing them to produce explicit content, and paying for videos, including involvement of a 13-year-old victim and his 15-year-old brother.