Rep. Nancy Mace Slams Attorney General Alan Wilson After Child Sex Offender Arrested, Released Same Day

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Jan. 15, 2026)- Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) condemned the arrest and same-day release of Travis Reed Gaye, who previously pleaded guilty to child sex offenses, calling the incident a "complete failure" of South Carolina's criminal justice system under Attorney General Alan Wilson and his abject failure to prosecute child sexual exploitation.

"If you're a pedophile, you definitely want Alan Wilson to prosecute your case," said Rep. Mace."Wilson needs to answer for what he's done to our children in South Carolina."

Wilson's office dropped six out of seven charges for Gaye for child sexual exploitation of a minor, which carried a combined potential sentence of up to 70 years in prison. Gaye previously pled guilty in November 2025 to a single count (instead of seven) for sexual exploitation of a minor and has since spent no time in jail. Despite the severity of his possession of child sexual abuse material and pleading guilty, Gaye received probation instead of facing time behind bars, with a suspended sentence of ten years if he violated probation.

He violated probation just ten days later.

Gaye, a registered sex offender was then arrested on December 16, 2025, by the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) for multiple probation violations, and was released back onto the streets within hours.

According to arrest warrants and court records, probation agents discovered Gaye in violation of multiple conditions. Despite these violations and despite Gaye's plea agreement specified prison time upon violation, he was released from the Charleston County Detention Center the same day after a magistrate, without a law degree, set a $15,000 bond.

"Those who abuse children should never be free to begin with," Rep. Mace added."What happened here is a betrayal of every parent, every victim, and every child in South Carolina. Alan Wilson is turning our state into a pedophile paradise."

Unfortunately, child predators walking free in our streets has become the norm under Alan Wilson. Records obtained through Freedom of Information Acts from Alan Wilson's office reveal a prosecutorial breakdown and years of failure:

• 32 CASES DISMISSED IN ONE YEAR:

  Attorney General Wilson's office dismissed at least 32 child sex crime cases in fiscal year 2024-25 alone, citing "insufficient evidence" or prosecutorial discretion, despite arrests, warrants, and forensic examinations already having occurred. Across multiple years, dozens of additional cases were similarly dismissed.

• ZERO TO THREE JURY TRIALS PER YEAR:

  From fiscal years 2016-17 through 2024-25, jury trials in child sex crime cases ranged from zero to three statewide annually. Some years saw ZERO jury trials across the entire state. The overwhelming majority of accused child predators never faced a jury, and the public never saw evidence tested in open court.

• 84% RESOLVED BY PLEA DEALS:

  Plea deals overwhelmingly dominate child sex crime prosecutions in South Carolina, with 79% to 84% of all cases each year resolved through plea agreements. In fiscal year 2024-25 alone, 226 cases were plea-bargained, meaning justice was negotiated behind closed doors rather than proven in court.

• NEARLY 800 CASES IN BACKLOG:

  The backlog has grown by 65%, rising from the high-400s to nearly 800 unresolved child sex crime cases statewide. Hundreds of cases remain open year after year while victims wait for justice and children remain vulnerable.

Congresswoman Mace is calling on Alan Wilson to answer for his failures and provide full transparency regarding:

• Why was a child sex offender who pleaded guilty to having a video of an infant being sexually assaulted freed hours after violating probation?
• Why were 32 cases dismissed in fiscal year 2024-25 despite evidence, arrests, and forensic examinations?
• Why has Alan Wilson's office abandoned jury trials in favor of hidden plea deals?
• Why nearly 800 child sex crime cases remain unresolved year over year?
• What immediate action will Alan Wilson take to protect South Carolina's children instead of protecting child predators?

South Carolina parents and children deserve answers.

###