A Charleston man has learned his fate after being convicted of serious drug trafficking charges in Charleston County. Antiwayne Jabar Rouse, 44, was found guilty of multiple offenses including trafficking cocaine (third offense), trafficking crack cocaine (third offense), possession with intent to distribute fentanyl (third offense), failure to stop for a blue light (second offense), and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Rouse was sentenced to 25 years in prison, accompanied by a $50,000 fine. The sentence comes after a two-day trial, and it follows his January 23, 2023, arrest. The conviction stems from a high-speed chase that began around 11 p.m. when North Charleston police tried to pull over Rouse on International Boulevard. Instead of stopping, Rouse sped up, ran a red light, and attempted to escape.
The chase ended when Rouse lost control of his vehicle on the I-26 east on-ramp, causing it to disable. Rouse fled on foot but was eventually apprehended by a K9 officer. As police detained him, they found large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, along with $4,385 in cash and a digital scale. A weapon was also discovered in his car.
Solicitor Scarlett Wilson remarked, “This situation could have had a more devastating end. We are lucky no one was killed.” Assistant Solicitor R. Hunt Russell added, “The jury’s quick verdict sends a clear message: trafficking dangerous narcotics and reckless behavior will not be tolerated.”
