Brandon Curtis Horne
Abbeville, S.C.; August 29, 2017 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo announced Tuesday that a multi-county drug dealer was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday afternoon in connection to five arrests spanning three counties over a 7-month period.
Brandon Curtis Horne, 37, of Cross Hill, pleaded guilty Monday in Abbeville County to charges of trafficking methamphetamines 10-28 grams, trafficking methamphetamines 28-100 grams, unlawful carrying of a pistol, and unlawful neglect of a child.
Circuit Judge Donald Hocker then sentenced Horne to 12 years in prison as part of the plea agreement. The crimes are considered serious and violent offenses under state law and Horne must serve a minimum of 85 percent – or about 10 years, two months – before being eligible for release.
Horne had no previous record related to the distribution of illegal substances until Monday when he entered his plea.
A controlled buy in Laurens County touched off a 7-month period in which Horne was arrested in Laurens, Abbeville and Greenwood counties. The first arrest came in October 2016 when a confidential informant purchased about 7 grams of methamphetamines from Horne. A second controlled buy in Greenwood County ended the spree in March 2017. Following his December 2016 arrest in Laurens County, Horne was charged with unlawful neglect of a child after officers discovered more than 80 grams of meth at Horne’s residence with his children present in the home.
Assistant Solicitor Wade Dowtin prosecuted the case for the state, with assistance from 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Inv. Chris Wilkie. Horne was represented by Aaron Taylor of the Greenwood County Bar, Kami Granade of the Abbeville County Public Defender’s Office, and Chris Fedalei of the Greenwood County Public Defender’s Office.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his team along with Lt. Chad Cox and The Greenwood County DEU, Sgt. Matt Veal, Inv. Steven Sweat and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, and the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office in preparing the case and securing the conviction.
“I could not be more proud of the way agencies from three of the four counties in the 8th Judicial Circuit worked together to put this long-time nuisance to our communities behind bars,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “This case proves that you cannot escape justice, a lesson Brandon Horne learned the hard way. My office will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement to rid our streets of drug dealers like Brandon Horne.”