Greenwood, S.C.; June 11, 2024 – A Greenwood man will spend the next 15 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to charges related to possession of nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Tuesday.
Matthew Talmadge Clem, 37, pleaded guilty shortly before his case was to be called to trial before a Greenwood County jury. Circuit Judge Donald B. Hocker accepted Clem’s plea and imposed the negotiated 15-year prison sentence. Due to the classification of the offense, Clem will not be eligible for parole and must serve at least 85% of his sentence before his release.
On March 21, 2023, deputies with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at 804-A Calhoun Avenue after investigating drug activity at that location. Deputies found and recovered 849 grams of methamphetamine from a safe in Clem’s bedroom inside this residence. Investigators discovered that Clem had the combination to the safe saved in his cell phone.
Senior Assistant Solicitors Andrew Hodges and Wade Dowtin handled the case for the state, with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigator Blake Moore. Clem was represented by Charles Grose of the Greenwood County Bar.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff and the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigators in helping secure the conviction and long sentence.
“We continue to see the deadly drug trade not only affect the addicts that use the product of drug dealers like Matthew Clem, but often also spiral into other violent crimes,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “We will continue to work with Sheriff (Dennis) Kelly and our law enforcement agencies across the 8th Circuit to put people like Matthew Clem behind bars and keep them there so they cannot continue to sabotage the peace and well-being of our families.”