Authorities say a Lancaster home that should have been a safe place for kids was instead stocked with fentanyl, cocaine and guns within reach of two minors.
Jertavice Jerone Southers, 38, was arrested last Wednesday, after investigators searched his South Avenue residence and found drugs, firearms and ammunition accessible to the children, according to court and jail records. Officers had initially gone to the home looking for a juvenile wanted in connection with a recent firearm discharge, detained that juvenile at the scene, then obtained a search warrant. A judge later denied Southers bond, and he remains in custody.
With the warrant in hand, investigators seized nearly 14 grams of suspected fentanyl, multiple forms of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and four firearms, as reported by WSOC‑TV. The outlet reports that Southers is legally barred from having guns or ammunition because of prior convictions and now faces trafficking fentanyl, several counts of possession with intent to distribute, unlawful conduct toward a child and multiple firearm charges.
Public booking logs list Southers’ last Wednesday arrest and show him held at the Lancaster County Detention Center, according to local custody records at RecentlyBooked. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office website lists the county detention facility along with contact information.
Charges And Legal Stakes
Under state law, using or involving a person under 17 in drug distribution is a separate felony that carries five to 15 years in prison; that provision appears in the South Carolina Code. Trafficking and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances also bring heavy penalties, and recent statutory changes have set particularly low weight thresholds for fentanyl that can increase potential sentences, according to a legal review of state fentanyl penalty changes.
How The Search Began
Police say officers came to the South Avenue address to locate a juvenile wanted in connection with a recent firearm discharge. After taking that juvenile into custody, they secured a search warrant and uncovered the suspected narcotics, firearms and paraphernalia inside the home, according to WSOC‑TV. Southers was arrested on site and later denied bond at his initial court appearance, the station reports.
Local Context
The case comes on the heels of other narcotics operations in Lancaster County, including a February 2 search that turned up fentanyl pills, a firearm and more than $8,000 in cash, highlighting law enforcement’s continued focus on fentanyl distribution in the area, per WBTV. Prosecutors will decide whether to seek formal indictments and which specific charges to pursue as the investigation moves forward.
