D.S.C. · Sex AbuseFY2018–FY2025

Sex Abuse in the District of South Carolina

Q: What is the typical sentence for sexual abuse offences in the District of South Carolina?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 199 months (16 yr 7 mo), with the middle half of terms between 120 and 300 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for sexual abuse offences is 180 months.

Q: How often are sexual abuse offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

36% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 28% below it for other reasons; 33% were within the range. The Commission's categories are explained in the guide to how the guidelines work.

Q: How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, sexual abuse offences had a median prison term of 180 months and a within-range share of 41% over the same period. The district's figures are close to on median term and lower than the national within-range share.

Q: Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2G2.1 and §2G1.3.

Q: Is this a prediction for a particular case?

No. The figures are aggregates of sentences already imposed, as recorded by the US Sentencing Commission. They are not legal advice and do not estimate the outcome of any case.

D.S.C. · Fourth Circuit · Sex Abuse nationally

The datafile contains cases reported to the Commission with sentencing documents. Sentence length statistics use the Commission's capped variable (sentences of 470 months or longer, including life, are recorded as 470 months) and exclude sentences of probation or a fine only. Figures are aggregates of past cases and are not a prediction for any case.

15cases, FY2025115 over FY2018–FY2025

199median prison monthsnational, this offence: 180

33%within guideline rangenational 41%

—cases with a prison termnational 99%

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10

18%

17%

29%

11%

<10

median 199 mo

under 6 mo6–11 mo1–2 yr2–3 yr3–5 yr5–10 yr10–15 yr15–20 yr20–30 yr30 yr+life

Share of cases with a prison term, by length of the term (112 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: sexual abuse offences nationally.

Interquartile range 120–300 months; mean 207. <10 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

Sex Abuse was the primary offence type in 115 cases sentenced in the District of South Carolina between FY2018 and FY2025 (2% of the district's cases), with 15 in FY2025.

The median prison term was 199 months (16 yr 7 mo), close to the national median for sexual abuse offences (180 months) and close to the Fourth Circuit median (204). Half of prison terms fell between 120 and 300 months; — of cases carried a prison term.

33% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 41%); 36% were below the range on a government motion and 28% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2018 (15 against 19). The median prison term in FY2025 (174 months) was shorter than in FY2018 (240 months).

These are aggregates of past cases. The guideline range for any case depends on its offence level, criminal history and statutory minimums, and the sentence on the court's findings; no figure here estimates an outcome.

§ 3Position relative to the guideline range

Within guideline range 33%Above range <10Below range, government sponsored 36%Below range, other 28%Not determinable 0

§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation

Measure	D.S.C., sex abuse	D.S.C., all offences	4th Cir., sex abuse	US, sex abuse
Cases per fiscal year	14	692	109	1,239
Share of district caseload	2.1%	100%	—	—
Median prison months	199	51	204	180
Mean prison months	207	71	—	212
Cases with a prison term	—	91%	—	99%
Within guideline range	33%	45%	32%	41%
Above range	—	2%	4%	5%
Below range, government sponsored	36%	26%	31%	29%
Below range, other	28%	28%	34%	26%
Median final offence level	37	21	—	37

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

<10

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Sex Abuse cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)

240

<10

271

160

240

174

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Median prison months by fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)

Fiscal year	Cases	Prison	Median months	Within range	Below, gov.	Below, other	Above
FY2018	19	100%	240	—	—	—	—
FY2019	14	100%	240	—	—	0%	—
FY2020	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2021	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2022	22	—	271	—	50%	—	0%
FY2023	18	100%	160	—	—	—	—
FY2024	17	100%	240	—	—	—	0%
FY2025	15	—	174	—	—	—	0%

§ 6Criminal history

Category I63% · 67%

Category II<10

Category III12% · 9%

Category IV<10

Category V<10

Category VI<10

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: sexual abuse offences nationally.

§ 7Guidelines applied

§none · 156 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2G2.1 Sexually exploiting a minor by production of sexual material · 54 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2G1.3 Promoting a commercial sex act or prohibited sexual conduct with a minor · 42 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2A3.1 Criminal sexual abuse · 18 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2G1.1 Promoting a commercial sex act or prohibited sexual conduct · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2X3.1 Accessory after the fact · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)

Primary guidelines the Commission associates with this offence type, with the district's caseload under each across all offence types.

§ 8Questions and answers

What is the typical sentence for sexual abuse offences in the District of South Carolina?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 199 months (16 yr 7 mo), with the middle half of terms between 120 and 300 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for sexual abuse offences is 180 months.

How often are sexual abuse offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

36% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 28% below it for other reasons; 33% were within the range. The Commission's categories are explained in the guide to how the guidelines work.

How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, sexual abuse offences had a median prison term of 180 months and a within-range share of 41% over the same period. The district's figures are close to on median term and lower than the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2G2.1 and §2G1.3.

Is this a prediction for a particular case?

No. The figures are aggregates of sentences already imposed, as recorded by the US Sentencing Commission. They are not legal advice and do not estimate the outcome of any case.

§ 9Other offence types in the District of South Carolina

§ 10Provenance

Source: United States Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles, fiscal years 2018–2025 (US government works), aggregated by this site; the FY2025 file is dated 29 Apr 2026. Offence type is the Commission's OFFGUIDE code 27; district is CIRCDIST 23. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.