Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) has criticized South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson following the arrest and same-day release of Travis Reed Gaye, a registered sex offender who previously pleaded guilty to child sexual exploitation charges. Mace described the incident as a “complete failure” of the state’s criminal justice system under Wilson.
“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.”
According to court records, six out of seven charges against Gaye for child sexual exploitation were dropped by Wilson’s office. These charges could have resulted in up to 70 years in prison. In November 2025, Gaye pled guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and received probation rather than jail time, with a suspended ten-year sentence if he violated probation.
Gaye violated his probation ten days later and was arrested on December 16, 2025, by the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for multiple violations. He was released from the Charleston County Detention Center within hours after a magistrate set bond at $15,000.
“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.”
Mace cited data obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests showing that at least 32 child sex crime cases were dismissed by the Attorney General’s office in fiscal year 2024–25 due to “insufficient evidence” or prosecutorial discretion. This occurred despite arrests and forensic examinations taking place.
From fiscal years 2016–17 through 2024–25, jury trials for these cases ranged from zero to three per year statewide; some years saw no jury trials at all. Most accused individuals did not face trial by jury.
Additionally, between 79% and 84% of all such cases each year are resolved through plea agreements rather than court trials; in fiscal year 2024–25 alone there were 226 plea-bargained cases.
The backlog of unresolved child sex crime cases has increased by about 65%, reaching nearly 800 open cases statewide.
Congresswoman Mace called on Attorney General Wilson for greater transparency regarding why Gaye was released so quickly after violating probation; why dozens of cases were dismissed despite evidence; why so few jury trials occur; why hundreds of cases remain unresolved; and what steps will be taken to better protect children in South Carolina.
Nancy Mace currently serves as U.S. Representative for South Carolina’s 1st district since replacing Joe Cunningham in Congress in 2021. She previously served in the state House from 2018-2020 and lives in Charleston.
