A Pageland man was sentenced to three years in prison after 14 bags of crack cocaine fell out of his pockets in front of police, Assistant 4th Circuit Solicitor Adam Foard said in a press release issued Wednesday.
Akim Rashad Howard was convicted Tuesday of possession with intent to distribute powder cocaine and crack cocaine. Fourth Circuit Court Judge Paul M. Burch sentenced Howard to three years on each charge. The charges will run concurrently.
Howard was charged after Pageland Police found him in possession of 14 wrapped pieces of crack cocaine as well as .6 grams of powder cocaine during a security sweep at N. Elm Street in Pageland.
Howard was approached by officers and asked to remove his hands from his pockets for officer safety and the drugs fell out of his pocket, Foard said.
"State law says that certain characteristics, such as the amount of drugs and the manner in which it is packaged, give rise to an inference that the defendant intends to distribute the drugs." Foard said.
"While there was no direct evidence showing Howard had sold drugs, his mere possession indicates intent to distribute which is considered the same as actual distribution under our laws.
Foard went on to say that certain areas around the North Elm Street facility are plagued with violence and drug problems.
Because of this, police have to take every case very seriously, he said.
Because he was convicted on the charges he faced, Howard will faced enhanced sentencing if he is convicted in the future, Foard said.
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