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Lexington County Sheriff's Department, 521 Gibson Road, Lexington, SC (2026)

08/30/2026

U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced a Midlands man to 20 years in prison for role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

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Midlands Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Role in a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

COLUMBIA, S.C. - William Larry Javis, Jr., 46, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Evidence gathered during the investigation showed that, beginning in 2023, members of the organization distributed kilograms of methamphetamine, co***ne, fentanyl, crack co***ne, and ma*****na throughout the Columbia and Lexington County areas. Investigators identified Javis as one of the organization’s leaders. He managed two stash houses, as well as hotel rooms on occasion, to store and distribute narcotics.

The investigation further revealed that Javis, despite being a convicted felon, possessed multiple fi****ms and facilitated their sale. At sentencing, he was held responsible for distributing more than 19,000 grams of methamphetamine, 8,000 grams of co***ne, 172 grams of ma*****na, and 34 grams of fentanyl between September 2023 and January 2025.

Javis has a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of co***ne and 280 grams of co***ne base. He also has previous convictions for failure to stop for blue lights, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute co***ne. At the time of the conspiracy, Javis was on probation for a prior drug conviction.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Javis to 240 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the City of Columbia Police Department, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

08/29/2026

Sheriff Jay Koon and all the men and women of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department extend our heartfelt condolences to the Columbia Police Department, SC. To our brothers and sisters at CPD, we pledge to stand with you as you mourn the loss of Officer DeLong and support Officer Dymock in his recovery. We’ll be at the ready to help you any way we can. We pray you all find peace and comfort in the days ahead.

08/29/2026

The 11th Circuit Solicitor's Office announced the sentencing of a Lexington County man for trafficking drugs.

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Lexington County Man Sentenced to 30 years in Prison for Trafficking Drugs

Stefon Shananthony Russell, age 39, was convicted by a Lexington County jury on Thursday, August 20, 2026, for Trafficking Co***ne, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams – third or subsequent offense, Possession With Intent to Distribute (PWID) Co***ne Base – third or subsequent offense, Possession With Intent to Distribute (PWID) a Schedule I Narcotic – third or subsequent offense, and Possession With Intent to Distribute (PWID) Ma*****na – first offense. Circuit Court Judge Milton Kimpson presided over the trial and sentenced Russell to the maximum thirty (30) years on the trafficking charge, ten (10) years on the PWID co***ne base and schedule 1 narcotic charges, and the maximum five (5) years on the PWID ma*****na charge with all of his sentences running concurrently. A third or subsequent conviction for the trafficking offense carries a mandatory minimum of twenty-five years in prison. Under South Carolina law, Russell will not be eligible for parole on the trafficking and it is classified as a violent and serious offense. The PWID co***ne base and schedule 1 narcotic charges both carry mandatory minimum sentences of ten years in prison for a third or subsequent conviction and are both classified as serious offenses.

Assistant Solicitors Kyle E. Smith and Samuel J. Jones prosecuted this case on behalf of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. According to the prosecutors, this case represents the continued efforts of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who choose to flood our communities with dangerous drugs. The Solicitor’s Office is grateful to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and the South Carolina Department of Probation, Pardon and Parole for their work on this case.

On January 24, 2024, law enforcement received a call for service in the Gaston area of Lexington County. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (“NET”) responded as requested due to a report of a large amount of ma*****na and suspected narcotics being located during a home visit by parole agents. A search warrant was obtained by law enforcement for the house and the search revealed large amounts of ma*****na, suspected co***ne, and other powdery substance consistent with narcotics throughout the house and vehicles located on the property.

During the search of the home, agents also seized numerous personal items linking Russell to the address along with a cell phone taken from his person. A search warrant was later executed on the cell phone which revealed evidence of the sale of illegal narcotics such as co***ne, co***ne base, ma*****na, and M**A (“M” or molly). Russell also texted various people his location which confirmed the house address that law enforcement searched as being associated with Russell. Department of Motor Vehicle records also linked Russell to the house. During the course of the investigation, all of the suspected illegal narcotics were analyzed. The analysis confirmed the recovered substances were ma*****na, co***ne, co***ne base, and a designer drug known as “bath salts.”

During the trial, Russell took the stand in his own defense. He denied living in the home and denied having any knowledge about the drugs located by law enforcement. Russell admitted to being the only user of the cell phone that was seized by law enforcement.

During sentencing, prosecutors informed the Court that this was Russell’s fifth set of drug convictions over a period of twenty plus years. Russell also has prior convictions for strong arm robbery and driving under the influence. He was on parole at the time of arrest.

Russell has been transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to serve his active prison sentence.

08/29/2026

We're joining Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for Saturation Saturday, an effort focused on preventing impaired driving and keeping everyone on our roads safe.

Expect to see additional safety checkpoints throughout Lexington County tonight. If you plan to drink, make a plan to get home safe. Never drive impaired. ❌

08/27/2026

Three criminology and criminal justice majors from the University of South Carolina have found a personal and professional home at the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.

Interested in following their footsteps? Visit joinLCSD.com

McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina Career Center, University of South Carolina Alumni Association

08/27/2026

2 middle school students face weapons charges in unrelated cases

LEXINGTON, S.C. – Students at Carolina Springs Middle School were charged for unrelated cases of having weapons on school grounds.

“On Tuesday, school administrators were notified that a female student might have a knife in her backpack,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “After searching her bag, a kitchen knife was found and immediately secured by the school resource officer.”

During an unrelated search, a loaded handgun was found in the backpack of a male student Thursday morning, according to Koon.

“School administrators found the gun in his backpack while addressing an unrelated discipline issue,” Koon said. “No students were harmed in either case.”

The female student is being charged with carrying a weapon on school property. The male student is facing the same charge along with possession of a firearm by certain persons unlawful.

“Both were released to the custody of their parents and will appear in family court at a later date,” said Koon. “Their names will not be released because they are under the age of 18.”

08/26/2026

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of a Lexington man on criminal solicitation of a minor charge.

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Lexington Man Arrested on Criminal Solicitation of a Minor Charge

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Joshua Rene Massalou (age 31) of Lexington, S.C., on one charge connected to the s*xual exploitation of a minor. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department made the arrest.

Investigators state Massalou solicited a minor for s*x.

Massalou was arrested on August 14, 2026. He is charged with one count of criminal solicitation of a minor (§16-15-342), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

* Child s*xual abuse material, or CSAM, is a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes. "Po*******hy" can imply the child was a consenting participant. Globally, the term child po*******hy is being replaced by CSAM for this reason.

08/26/2026

South Carolina Attorney General announced the arrest of a Lexington man on child s*xual abuse material charges.

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Lexington Man Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material* Charge

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Hunter Scott Duncan, (age 31) of Lexington, S.C., on one charge connected to the s*xual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department made the arrest. Investigators with the Attorney General's Office, also a member of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.

Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to Duncan. Investigators state Duncan possessed files of child s*xual abuse material.

Duncan was arrested on August 20, 2026. He is charged with one count of s*xual exploitation of a minor, third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

* Child s*xual abuse material, or CSAM, is a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes. "Po*******hy" can imply the child was a consenting participant. Globally, the term child po*******hy is being replaced by CSAM for this reason.

08/25/2026

Elementary school PTO president charged with breach of trust

LEXINGTON, S.C. – A Lexington woman has been arrested after confessing to the misuse of Parent Teacher Organization funds at a Lexington County school.

Cassandra Jensen Hanvey, 36, is charged with breach of trust, according to the arrest warrant.

“We were notified by Carolina Springs Elementary School that Hanvey confessed to using PTO funds for personal use,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “She was the president of the CSES PTO.”

Hanvey fraudulently spent more than $20,000 between June 2023 and June 2026, according to Koon.

Hanvey turned herself in and was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center Sunday morning. She was released on a personal recognizance bond Monday.

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