A former South Carolina youth pastor and wedding photographer has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for possessing child sex abuse material (CSAM). Daniel Kellan Mayfield received the maximum sentence.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex crimes that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
Mayfield was initially arrested in 2023 after a female victim alleged that Mayfield recorded her while she was taking a shower. After confronting Mayfield and going through his phone, the victim reported finding images and videos of CSAM.
Soon after Mayfield was arrested, prosecutors brought forth numerous more charges.
Mayfield still faces more than 150 charges of voyeurism and exploitation of a minor across three different counties. The office of the South Carolina attorney general will prosecute those cases.
Prior to his initial arrest, Mayfield worked as a youth pastor at Gowensville Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in South Carolina. Mayfield allegedly recorded girls using the bathroom at the church. The girls were as young as 14 years old.
He is also accused of secretly recording bridal parties changing their clothes and using the bathroom in his capacity as a contracted wedding photographer and videographer.
Investigators have cleared Gowensville Baptist Church of any wrongdoing, and the church terminated Mayfield’s employment after being made aware of the allegations against him.
“On May 27th, 2023, First Baptist Gowensville leadership was made aware of an incident of moral misconduct perpetrated by one of our staff members,” the church said at the time. “Proper authorities were notified immediately, and the employee was terminated from his role.”
In December 2024, Mayfield pleaded guilty to one count of possession of CSAM. He has now received the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for that charge. He will be credited with two and a half years of time served.
After his release, Mayfield will be required to register as a sex offender and be under supervision for the rest of his life.
