Greenwood, S.C.; October 27, 2023 – A Greenwood man was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday afternoon to trafficking charges, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday.
Leslie Alexander Barger, 34, pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon to charges of trafficking heroin, trafficking methamphetamine, and third-degree burglary. Circuit Judge R. Frank Addy Jr. then sentenced Barger to 18 years in prison.
In June 2022, officers from both Greenwood Police Department and Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office were executing a search warrant at a Sample Road residence when a man later identified as Barger walked up to the residence with a backpack. He told officers he was running from someone and, when asked about the contents of the bookbag, Barger responded, “Drugs – a lot of them.” A search of the bag turned up a handgun, more than 200 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, and more than 400 grams of marijuana.
Deputy Solicitor Yates Brown handled the case for the state. Barger was represented by Colie Stancil of the 8th Circuit Public Defender’s Office.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his Greenwood team, along with the joint effort between GPD and GCSO narcotics officers in securing the conviction and long prison sentence.
“Illegal drugs continue to destroy our communities, and poison pushers like Leslie Barger are the ones behind it,” Solicitor Stumbo said. “Thankfully, here in the 8th Circuit we have dedicated law enforcement professionals who work seamlessly together to get drug dealers off our streets. My office will continue to support their work in the courtroom as long as illegal drugs are a scourge in our communities.”