A PWID charge transforms your life overnight—what starts as a traffic stop can escalate into felony allegations carrying decades in prison without requiring prosecutors to prove you sold anything.
Available 24/7 - The Investigation Against You Has Already Started
A PWID charge in South Carolina transforms your life overnight. What starts as a traffic stop or consensual search can escalate into felony allegations carrying decades in prison—charges that don't require prosecutors to prove you sold anything, only that you possessed drugs in quantities or packaging suggesting distribution. South Carolina law enforcement and prosecutors aggressively pursue these cases across all 46 counties, from Charleston to Spartanburg, Columbia to Myrtle Beach, using drug weight, cash amounts, scales, baggies, and circumstantial evidence to elevate simple possession into trafficking-level offenses.
Matthew McGuire has defended PWID cases in every South Carolina jurisdiction for over three decades, understanding how a few grams can mean the difference between probation and mandatory minimum prison sentences. Call (888) 499-5738 now—McGuire Law operates 24/7/365 because when you're arrested for possession with intent to distribute, the investigation against you begins immediately and your defense must start just as fast.
PWID cases hinge on constitutional protections, forensic evidence, and prosecutorial burden of proof. Our decades of drug defense experience expose weaknesses that lead to dismissals, reductions, and acquittals.
Attacking illegal searches and seizures—traffic stops without probable cause, warrantless home entries, and consent obtained through coercion that violates constitutional protections.
Dismantling prosecutorial claims of distribution intent by demonstrating personal use quantities, absence of distribution paraphernalia, and reasonable alternative explanations.
Unraveling CI operations through Franks hearings, exposing unreliable informants with criminal histories and motivations to fabricate evidence for reduced sentences.
Challenging cases where drugs were found in shared spaces, vehicles with multiple occupants, or locations where knowing dominion and control cannot be proven.
Contesting lab testing procedures, chain of custody documentation, and weight calculations that determine whether charges remain PWID or escalate to trafficking thresholds.
Understanding the specific charges you face and how South Carolina law defines possession with intent to distribute is essential for mounting an effective defense.
PWID differs from simple possession when prosecutors allege intent to sell, deliver, or transfer based on quantity, packaging, paraphernalia, or circumstantial evidence beyond personal use amounts.
Trafficking charges trigger when weight exceeds statutory thresholds—10+ grams methamphetamine, 28+ grams cocaine, 10+ pounds marijuana—carrying mandatory minimum sentences starting at 25 years.
Charges apply when law enforcement discovers chemicals, equipment, or locations suggesting drug production, including marijuana growing operations or methamphetamine labs.
Distribution to minors or within designated drug-free zones near schools, parks, or playgrounds adds mandatory sentence enhancements to already serious charges.
Conspiracy to distribute allows prosecution even without physical possession if you allegedly agreed with others to traffic controlled substances.
South Carolina classifies controlled substances into Schedules I through V, with PWID penalties varying dramatically based on drug classification and your criminal history.
South Carolina trafficking sentences carry mandatory minimum prison time without parole eligibility. A few grams can mean decades behind bars. Immediate legal intervention is essential.
When facing charges that carry decades of mandatory prison time, you need an attorney whose commitment matches the severity of the consequences you face.
Filing suppression motions challenging every constitutional violation—because if police violated your rights, evidence gets suppressed and cases collapse.
PWID arrests don't happen during business hours. Matt McGuire is available around the clock to protect your rights from the moment of arrest through trial.
Defending PWID cases in every South Carolina county—from Charleston federal court to Spartanburg General Sessions, with relationships that matter.
Preparing every case for trial forces prosecutors to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt—often resulting in dismissals or favorable plea negotiations.
Honest assessment of your case, realistic expectations about outcomes, and clear communication throughout every stage of your defense.
Understanding how PWID investigations develop reveals opportunities for defense challenges. Each arrest scenario presents unique constitutional and evidentiary issues.
Officers claim to smell marijuana, see packaging materials, or discover cash alongside drugs during vehicle searches—often without proper probable cause.
Buyers work with police to make controlled purchases while wearing recording devices or under surveillance—creating opportunities to challenge CI reliability.
Warrants based on neighbor complaints, utility usage patterns, or trash pulls—often containing false statements that can be attacked through Franks hearings.
UPS, FedEx, or USPS packages opened by drug task forces and delivered through controlled delivery operations—raising Fourth Amendment issues.
Text messages with drug terminology, customer lists, payment records, or communications about quantities extracted from phones—often without proper warrants.
Drug dog alerts during traffic stops that South Carolina courts increasingly scrutinize for handler cues and documented false positive rates.
Three decades of PWID defense across South Carolina means knowing exactly how to dismantle prosecution cases, challenge evidence, and achieve outcomes that protect your freedom.
Filing and winning Fourth Amendment challenges that exclude illegally obtained evidence—when drugs get suppressed, cases collapse and charges get dismissed.
Decades of working with solicitors statewide creates credibility that opens negotiations for charge reductions, pretrial intervention, and alternatives to mandatory minimums.
When PWID escalates to federal prosecution, Matt McGuire's experience in U.S. District Courts across South Carolina provides defense against even harsher federal sentencing.
Attacking crime lab testing procedures, weight calculations, and evidence handling that can undermine prosecution cases or reduce trafficking charges.
Appearing at bond hearings statewide, from Beaufort to Greenville, arguing for reasonable release conditions that allow you to prepare your defense from home.
PWID convictions create cascading consequences that extend far beyond prison time. Understanding what's at stake underscores why aggressive defense is essential.
You have an absolute right to remain silent. Never consent to searches. Request an attorney immediately. Do not explain drug possession or make admissions. Everything you say becomes evidence against you.
PWID charges raise critical questions about evidence, sentencing, and defense strategies. Here are direct answers to what defendants facing these serious charges need to know.
Simple possession means drugs for personal use. PWID charges allege intent to distribute based on quantity, packaging, scales, baggies, large cash amounts, or other circumstantial evidence—even without any actual sale.
Often yes. Challenging the "intent" element—showing personal use quantities, absence of distribution paraphernalia, or reasonable alternative explanations—can result in charge reductions.
Trafficking triggers at 10+ grams methamphetamine, 28+ grams cocaine, 10+ pounds marijuana. Exceeding these thresholds means mandatory minimum sentences starting at 25 years without parole.
Absolutely. Fourth Amendment violations—illegal traffic stops, warrantless searches, coerced consent—can result in evidence suppression and case dismissals.
Constructive possession requires proving you had knowing dominion and control. Drugs found in vehicles or homes with multiple occupants can be challenged when possession can't be proven.
For first-time offenders without trafficking quantities, PTI may be negotiable. Successful completion can result in charge dismissal and expungement eligibility.
CI operations can be challenged through Franks hearings exposing false statements in warrants, informant criminal histories, and motivations to fabricate evidence.
Yes. Distribution near schools, large quantities, interstate transportation, or involvement of federal agencies can trigger federal prosecution with harsher mandatory minimums.
With over 30 years of experience defending South Carolina, McGuire Law provides elite legal representation with national recognition. McGuire Law has grown from a small practice into one of the most trusted law firms in South Carolina. We understand that legal issues can be overwhelming, whether you're facing criminal charges, dealing with injuries from an accident, or navigating family law matters.
McGuire Law is committed to each client's unique situation, and we don't believe in boilerplate solutions. Every case requires careful analysis, strategic planning, and aggressive representation. Our firm combines over 30 years of experience with cutting-edge legal strategies to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.
McGuire Law serves all 46 South Carolina counties. We know these counties, their courts, their legal communities, and most importantly, the people who live here. This local knowledge, combined with our legal expertise, gives our clients a significant advantage.
Matt McGuire received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina.
Matt has served as a law clerk for a State Circuit Judge, an Assistant Attorney General for the State of South Carolina, and an Assistant Solicitor in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office.
Matt is a proud husband, father of two, and a long-time resident of Richland County, South Carolina.
Don't let a single arrest destroy your life. Our firm has successfully defended PWID cases throughout all 46 South Carolina counties, achieving dismissals, reductions, and acquittals when freedom hangs in the balance.
Matt McGuire has defended PWID charges in every South Carolina county for over 30 years—in state and federal courts from summary court through the South Carolina Supreme Court. When you're facing possession with intent charges anywhere in South Carolina, call (888) 499-5738 immediately for 24/7/365 representation, or use our online chat and calendar booking to schedule your confidential case evaluation.
