BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. () — Why do repeat offenders, particularly those charged with illegal weapon possession, continue to secure bail and return to the streets in Beaufort County? This issue persists despite state laws designed to curb repeat offenses.

These concerns arose after Beaufort County Sheriff PJ Tanner highlighted an ongoing problem within the community.

“Every week, every weekend, we’re pursuing individuals out on bond for possessing machine guns,” stated Sheriff PJ Tanner.

He shared these insights during a Q&A session yesterday, which aimed to provide updates on the investigation into the St. Helena mass shooting.

According to Tanner, over the past 18 months, Beaufort County has arrested 24 individuals for machine gun possession. Of these, six remain incarcerated, while 18 have been released on bond.

“Nobody should possess a machine gun,” Tanner said.

Many people in the community are now concerned, and are posing questions like, is the illegal weapon what was used this weekend on St. Helena? And did the person (or people) have several previous weapon charges?

 If so, how were they able to consistently get out of jail and back onto the streets?

“We pass laws upping sentences for repeat offenders and all that,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.

Governor McMaster told that the state has worked to make it harder for repeat criminals to get out of jail.

Laws were created, like South Carolina Bond Reform Statute, 17-15-270, which was formed in 2023.

But the statute specifically targets repeat offenders who commit violent crimes.

“17-15-270 South Carolina code makes it a crime for somebody who is on bond or pretrial release for a violent crime, to commit another violent crime while on that bond or pretrial release,” said Austin Blake, a Criminal Defense Attorney with the Harvey and Battey Law Firm.

This means that if someone is out on bond for a violent crime, and commits another violent crime, they can be given a harder sentence under the statute.

This would prevent the individual from continuing to commit crimes and would decrease their chances of getting out on bond.

But is possession defined under a violent crime?

“The statute does not indicate anywhere that the mere possession of a firearm, whether automatic, semiautomatic or otherwise, is a violent crime,” said Blake.

The law would only apply if the weapon was used with intent to harm or did harm.  

Sheriff Tanner said in that meeting that the repeat criminals, specifically ones with possession of machine gun or illegal weapon charges, are given “joke bonds.”

Blake said those decisions are in the hands of the court.

“It’s a case-by-case analysis. I’ve had people held without bond.  I’ve had people held without bond where I thought they should have been released. I’ve had people that I didn’t think we were going to get a bond for, and we got a bond lower than I could have ever imagined. It all depends on the facts and what facts are highlighted and who the judge is,” said Blake.

Though Governor McMaster said they’ve passed laws to try and up repeat offenders’ sentences and make it harder for them to get out of jail, he also noted that laws can only be applied if the courts abide by them.  

“You can have all the laws in the world, but if you don’t have the judges that understand them and enforce them and are serious about it, then you’re going to keep on having this,” said McMaster.