An Oconee County man has been sentenced to 11 years in state prison following a drug investigation that began with a police pursuit and ended with the seizure of 129 grams of methamphetamine.
David Wayne Howard, of Westminster, South Carolina, pled guilty last week to Trafficking Methamphetamine, Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime. Howard was represented by Lee Cole of the Anderson County Bar. The Honorable R. Scott Sprouse presided over the plea and sentenced Howard to 11 years in the Department of Corrections.
On August 9, 2024, Deputy Emily Jones with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office uncovered the large quantity of methamphetamine after attempting to stop Howard for separate traffic infractions. The attempted traffic stop led to a pursuit and ended due to Howard colliding with a guard railing near Return Church Road. Deputies placed Howard under arrest after finding him hiding in brush approximately twenty (20) feet from his overturned vehicle. A search of the vehicle by Deputy Brody Pitts uncovered a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber revolver, a Steoger 9mm pistol, and 129.53 grams of methamphetamine. Narcotics Lieutenant Anna Orr appeared in Court and informed the Judge of Howard’s sordid history of drug distribution and trafficking of narcotics in Oconee County.
Howard had a prior conviction for trafficking methamphetamine in 2020. This current offense is considered both violent and serious and Howard must serve eighty-five percent (85%) of the eleven (11) year sentence before he is eligible for community supervision. Additionally, this is now Howard’s second “strike” under South Carolina’s “three strikes and you are out” law.
Senior Assistant Solicitor Christopher Beeco prosecuted the case for the State, with assistance of Investigator Jessica Sanders. “This sentence sends a strong message that drug trafficking and attempts to evade law enforcement will not be tolerated in our community,” Solicitor Black stated. “We are grateful for the work from the personnel at the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office in this case, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat this poison and the people who traffic in it.”.