Warning: This Post Contains Sensitive Details of Child Abuse
A local magistrate judge in Charleston, who was once tasked with upholding the law, now sits in jail and he is accused of a very horrific crime.
James Benjamin Gosnell, Jr., 68, was arrested on September 16, 2025, for possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, his disturbing actions went far beyond mere possession, with prosecutors calling him a “grave danger to the community, particularly children.”
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| James Benjamin Gosnell |
The case against the suspended Charleston County magistrate judge began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
They alerted Federal agents with Homeland Security about suspicious financial transactions from an account linked to Gosnell.
The transactions occurred in November 2024 and they were with a known distributor of child sexual abuse material in the United Kingdom, as per Live5News
Law enforcement officials eventually tracked him down and executed a search warrant at his home, and according to the criminal complaint, Gosnell cooperated with officials.
He even directed them to a USB flash drive, which was later found to contain numerous videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of prepubescent minors, including infants and toddlers.
Forensic investigators also found chilling conversations from Gosnell’s phone on the messaging app Telegram.
According to police reports, he communicated with a man who had a “shared interest in pedophilia,” and their “romantic interests involved abusing children together.”
Prosecutors also allege that Gosnell told the man the following during their conversations:
- He Sexually abused a neighbors infant he was babysitting.
- He Abused a five-month-old under a blanket in public in his neighborhood.
- He Traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to have sex with a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old.
- He had Planned to travel to Florida to meet this online friend so that they could “jointly rape and torture” the infant son of a member of the other man’s family.
During one of their conversation, Gosnell reportedly sent a selfie of himself and a 2 year old child with the message ‘my new buddy,' as per police reports. He also reportedly claimed to have sexually assaulted the girl 2 weeks prior.
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| James Benjamin Gosnell |
After an extensive investigation, he was arrested, and charged. Federal prosecutors also filed an 18-page motion opposing his release on bond. The filing alleges that Gosnell is not just a collector of abuse material but an active, hands-on abuser.
In light of these allegations, authorities are now urging the public to come forward with any information about the case.
“To the parents of the community, our investigation has revealed that Gosnell claims to have abused very young children," said U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Bryan Stirling, while making a direct appeal to parents.
“If you have left your children alone with Gosnell, or even let him hold your child, please email the tip line” he added.
Gosnell is no stranger to the public eye. He was the judge who presided over the bond hearing for convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof in June 2015.
During that hearing, he garnered significant criticism for saying that there were victims on “both sides,” referring to Roof’s family.
Now, the man who once sat in judgment of others is himself detained. Prosecutors argue his position as a magistrate judge makes him a flight risk, as he has “immense insight into the workings of law enforcement and the court system.”
The South Carolina Supreme Court suspended Gosnell from his role on September 16, the same day as his arrest.
He has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and remains held at the Al Cannon Detention Center as the federal investigation continues to unfold.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Homeland Security Investigations at [email protected].
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