Lexington, SC - William Chad Marino, age 50, was found guilty of Distribution of Heroin Third Offense on November 19, 2020, in Lexington County General Sessions Court. Chief Administrative Judge Frank R. Addy, Jr., presided over the trial of this case and imposed a sentence under seal because Marino failed to appear for trial. On Monday, December 14, 2020, Marino turned himself in to the Lexington County Detention Center. Today, December 18, 2020, the sentence was unsealed and Marino received a twenty-five (25) year sentence suspended to thirteen (13) years of active prison time followed by four (4) years of probation. Under South Carolina law, this conviction is classified as a serious offense.
Solicitor Rick Hubbard commented: “Prosecuting drug cases is extremely important in Lexington County. We have seen too many deaths and senseless killings due to drugs. Drugs also play a contributing factor in many of the violent crimes we have prosecuted over the years.”
Law enforcement received community complaints about drug activity regarding Marino. Evidence presented during trial established that, on February 3, 2020, Marino sold a quantity of heroin to a confidential informant working with the Lexington County Narcotics Enforcement Team. Drug analysis confirmed that the drugs were heroin and determined that the heroin was laced with fentanyl.
This case was prosecuted by Eleventh Circuit Assistant Solicitors Matt Edgerton and Kyle Smith. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Enforcement Team conducted this investigation. Their hard work continues to make our community safer.
Marino has prior convictions for drugs and property crimes. He will be transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.
