BLYTHEWOOD – A Blythewood sex offender with felony convictions spanning two decades is potentially facing more hard time due to federal weapons charges.
Jonathan Xavier Miller, 37, of Blythewood, has been indicted on charges of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, as well as possession of opioids, cocaine and meth.
If convicted on all counts, Miller could spend the rest of his life in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting.
Court documents obtained by The Voice state that Miller has a previous conviction for “serious drug felony.”
An arraignment hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 15, documents state.
Filed June 1, the five-count indictment says the violations occurred during a nine-month period in 2019.
The first count states that on or about February 22, 2019, the suspect possessed with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine.
In July 2019, the suspect possessed with intent to distribute quantities of crack cocaine, eutylone and bath salts, according to the indictment.
The suspect also possessed with intent to distribute additional quantities of opioids in November 2019, indictment states.
The other counts involve weapon possession charges.
One count states that the suspect possessed a handgun in the furtherance of the aforementioned opioid drug offense. The suspect is also prohibited from possessing a firearm because he’s a convicted felon, court records state.
A news release stated the suspect has previous convictions for strong arm robbery, criminal domestic violence, drug possession and weapon possession.
Miller is also a convicted sex offender, according to S.C. Law Enforcement Division records.
Richland County’s online court record system states that in 2001, he pleaded guilty to a charge of second degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, ages 11-14. He was sentenced to six years in prison, the database shows.
Miller also faces a multitude of drug and weapons counts in Richland County Circuit Court.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Office filed seven counts against Miller in March 2019. Irmo police filed an additional nine counts in November 2019.
The Richland County court case database lists both cases as pending.
In September 2013, Miller started serving a nine-year sentence that was linked to multiple drug charges the Columbia Police Department filed in January of that year, according to SLED records obtained by The Voice.
Miller litigated the charges all the way to the S.C. Supreme Court, arguing in court papers that Columbia police violated his Fourth Amendment rights by towing his vehicle after a traffic stop in a private driveway and searching the vehicle without a warrant.
The court ultimately upheld the charges in a 4-2 decision justices filed in 2018.
As of Tuesday, the S.C. Department of Corrections did not list Miller in its online inmate database.
A spokesperson with the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services was unable as of press time to provide more details about Miller’s sentence or possible release.
Miller remained behind bars through at least March 6, 2017, when he was charged with carry or conceal weapon by inmate. SLED records state he received a six-month sentence for that charge.
By February 2019, however, Miller appeared to no longer be incarcerated.
SLED records state that local police agencies charged him with multiple drug and weapon offenses in February, July and November of that year, which also corresponds with the timing of the federal charges.
