Man gets 15 years on meth charges

Staff report

Sunday, July 12, 2009

A Charleston County jury convicted Robert Santiago of two charges related to possessing and distributing methamphetamine, and Circuit Judge Kristi Harrington sentenced him to 15 years, Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said.

Santiago, 25, had six prior convictions, including two drug offenses, before being found guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine-second offense and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within a half-mile of a school.

Wilson said meth possession normally carries a sentence of zero to 15 years, but Santiago's prior drug record enhanced the charge to a second offense, which carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 30.

"Meth is an ugly, destructive drug," Wilson said. "Clearly, the judge recognized the havoc it wreaks in our community."

On Aug. 27, 2007, Charleston County Sheriff's detectives executed a search warrant of Santiago's home and found more than 35 grams of the drug, Wilson said.