A Florence man pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to a firearm charge.
According to a press release from Sherri A. Lydon United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, Trevor Winfield Evins, 35, of Florence, “entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.” United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr. accepted the plea and “will impose sentence after a pre-sentence report is prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.”
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing “established that October 18, 2017, an officer with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling near Saluda Drive and Madison Avenue and attempted to stop Evins for a traffic violation,” the release says. “Evins fled leading police on a vehicle chase before eventually stopping his car and fleeing on foot. FCSO officers located Evins after a search of the area. A search of the car driven by Evins uncovered quantity amounts of marijuana and cocaine. A loaded 9mm pistol was found hidden in the engine compartment.”
“Evins is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition based upon prior convictions. Evins has a prior federal court conviction for felon in possession of a firearm and a state court conviction for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance,” the release also states. “Evins faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
