A Pawleys Island man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug and gun charges in connection to an incident on Feb. 2, 2021.
Matthew Jenkins, 53, of Pawleys Island pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of possession with intent to distribute schedule I-II drugs and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent felony, according to the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office.
The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office said they were investigating larceny on Feb. 2, 2021, when they found Jenkins with the property that had been reported stolen. Deputies said they also found bags of heroin and crack cocaine on him as well as three handguns and ammunition in his belongings.
Jenkins also has prior convictions which prohibit him from lawfully possessing a firearm, the solicitor's office said. He has a conviction from 1987 of assault and battery with the intent to kill and armed robbery and from 2001 two counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
Additionally, he has drug convictions that date back to 1997 including a 2011 second-offense distribution of cocaine. Jenkins was also convicted in 2019 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent felony.