Former SC Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
Daniel Mayfield still facing over 160 charges across multiple counties in SC
Daniel Kellan Mayfield, a former youth pastor at First Baptist Church Gowensville in South Carolina, this week pleaded guilty to federal charges for possessing illegal child sexual abuse images.
Daniel Mayfield / Courtesy of Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office
The 36-year-old pleaded guilty on November 21 to one count of possession of illegal child sexual abuse images, according to reporting by The Christian Post. The crime carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Mayfield is also facing over 160 charges across multiple counties in South Carolina.
In the summer of 2023, Mayfield was arrested for voyeurism for filming a victim while she was showering in her mother’s home. The victim noticed a light shining outside the window, and when she stepped outside to investigate, she saw Mayfield in the yard.
The victim’s sister arrived in her car and her headlights illuminated Mayfield fleeing from the scene.
Both women confronted him and reported that he admitted to filming the victim while she was showering.
When authorities arrived, Mayfield at first denied he’d been filming the victim, but then reportedly admitted it when footage was found on his phone.
Several of the charges are related to Mayfield’s wedding videography business, through which he gained access to record people in the wedding party while changing clothes.
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In addition to voyeurism, Mayfield is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. He is charged with filming girls in the bathroom at First Baptist Church Gowensville while he served as a youth pastor there.
According to a statement last year when Mayfield was originally arrested, the church verified that his employment was terminated and said it “remain[s] dedicated to providing a safe worship environment and will be ever vigilant in protecting all persons involved in any of our events.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why does MinistryWatch report on sex crimes? These stories are tough to read and sometimes even tougher to report, but we think they are vital to our mission to bring transparency, accountability, and credibility to the evangelical church. To read more about why and how we report these stories, read “Why MinistryWatch Reports On Sex Crimes.” You can find that story here.
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