Columbia, The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday that S.C. Contaurus Dermont Smith, 46, of Columbia, had pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a handgun and was given a sentence of 63 months in federal prison. Smith was sentenced following an event in which he used a handgun that was illegally in his possession to accidently shoot himself in the leg.
The case is related to a shooting that occurred on the 900 block of House Street in Columbia on June 30, 2023. Officers from the Columbia Police Department who responded to the scene discovered Smith laying in the roadway with a gunshot wound to his leg, according to evidence that was presented in court. According to CPD’s Real Time Crime Center surveillance footage, Smith had unintentionally fired the gun, shooting himself.
Another person was also seen on camera grabbing an item from the scene and bringing it into a nearby house at 940 House Street. Officers were able to secure a search warrant for the house based on the witness testimony and the footage. Four firearms were found inside, one of which had a machinegun conversion component installed that allowed for automatic firing.
Despite being a convicted criminal who is not allowed to own firearms or ammo, Smith acknowledged that he had the gun he used to shoot himself. Additionally, he was held accountable for the machinegun that was discovered during the search. Smith’s lengthy history of violent crimes and a previous federal conviction for handgun possession led the court to impose a sentence that was higher than what was recommended by the federal government.
Smith was sentenced by United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Parole is not permitted under federal sentencing guidelines. Given Smith’s criminal history and the specifics of the case, the government requested an upward variation, which included the sentence.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department as part of the Department of Justice s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Sanford prosecuted the case.
Smith s case underscores the consequences of illegally possessing firearms and the commitment of federal and local authorities to reducing gun violence.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
