Lexington County Sheriff's Department

06/22/2026

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of a Gaston man on child sexual abuse material and related charges.

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Lexington County Man Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material* and Related Charges

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Christopher Lee Fagiole (age 43) of Gaston, S.C., on three charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department made the arrest. Investigators with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, also a member of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.

Investigators state Fagiole manufactured files of child sexual abuse material and sent sexually explicit images to a minor.

Fagiole was arrested on June 19, 2026. He is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, first degree (§16-15-395), a felony offense punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment; and two counts of dissemination of obscene material to a person under age eighteen (§16-15-345), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.

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 sexual 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.

06/22/2026

The 11th Circuit Solicitor's Office announced a 15-year sentencing of a Wagener man for trafficking methamphetamine in Lexington County.

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Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison in Lexington County

Christopher Lamar Corbitt, a 34-year-old Wagener man, has been sentenced to fifteen (15) years in prison following his conviction at trial in Lexington County for Trafficking Methamphetamine, more than 28 grams but less than 100 grams, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime. Circuit Court Judge Martha Rivers presided over the jury trial and imposed the sentence when the trial concluded on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Under South Carolina law, trafficking drugs is classified as a violent and serious offense. Corbitt will not be eligible for parole.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitors Player Long and Melissa Moon. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.

During the summer of 2024, investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department’s Multi-Agency Narcotic Enforcement Team were conducting an ongoing investigation into Corbitt. On July 8, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Corbitt’s vehicle in the Pelion area of Lexington County. A search of Corbitt’s vehicle yielded just over 93 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. There were additional items of evidence in the vehicle that indicated Corbitt sold drugs.

Assistant Solicitor Long commented that “methamphetamine has a devastating impact on our communities. This verdict and sentence demonstrate our commitment to working alongside law enforcement in aggressively prosecuting drug traffickers who threaten the safety of Lexington County residents.”

Corbitt will be transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day to all the fatherly figures out there! Thank you for all you do. 💙

06/19/2026

Lexington County Sheriff’s Department announces promotions, transfers

LEXINGTON, S.C. – Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon is pleased to announce the following promotions and transfers.

Stacey Gadson has transferred to sergeant in the community action team. Gadson previously worked as a sergeant in north region. He has been serving the county since 2000.

Gabriella Gamble has been promoted to Administrative Assistant III. Gamble previously worked as a records technician. She has been serving the county since 2024.

Jonathan Garcia has transferred to master deputy in detention. Garcia previously worked as a detention deputy. He has been serving the county since 2024.

Eugene Hammill has been promoted to resident deputy in the Gaston area. Hammill previously worked as a patrol deputy. He has been serving the county since 2025.

William James Holley has been promoted to master deputy in detention. Holley previously worked as a detention deputy. He has been serving the county since 2025.

Luke Keck has been promoted to senior detention deputy – transport. Keck previously worked as field training officer in detention. He has been serving the county since 2023.

Gaven Small has been promoted to senior investigator in the Crime Reduction Unit. Small previously worked as an investigator. He has been serving the county since 2018.

John Sanders has been transferred to resident deputy in the Batesburg – Leesville area. Sanders previously worked as a school resource officer. He has been serving the county since 2023.

Brittany Sawyer has been promoted to sergeant in detention. Sawyer previously worked as a master deputy detention. She has been serving the county since 2019.

Joshua Vicari has been promoted to sergeant in patrol. Vicari previously worked as an investigator in the Major Crimes Unit. He has been serving the county since 2021.

Brian Zwolak has been promoted to lieutenant in the Major Crimes Unit. Zwolak previously worked as a sergeant in the Crime Reduction Unit. He has been serving the county since 2016.

06/18/2026

Retired LCSD Sergeant Jeff Flanders passed away on Tuesday, June 16. He faithfully served the citizens of Lexington County from 1984 to 2022. His dedication to serving others and strengthening relationships within our community left an impact that will be felt for generations.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at noon at Barr-Price Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. to noon prior to the service at the funeral home.

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Celebrate the life of Sergeant Jeff Flanders, Retired and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

06/18/2026

The Lexington County Sheriff's Department is conducting an ongoing investigation into drug and human trafficking today at multiple locations throughout the county. This is a multi-agency operation including the West Columbia Police Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division - SLED and the Department of Homeland Security.

People might notice a significant law enforcement presence at various locations in the West Columbia area of the county. There is no ongoing threat to the public at this time.

Additional information will be provided when available.

06/18/2026

South Carolina Attorney General announced the arrest of two Lexington County men on child sexual abuse material charges.

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Lexington Men Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material* Charges

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Ralph Scott Gunter, (age 58) of Lexington, S.C., and Albert Halloween Strickland, (age 56) of Lexington, S.C., on eight total charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department made the arrests in these unrelated cases. Investigators with the South Carolina Attorney General's Office, also a member of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with these investigations.

Investigators received CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to Gunter and Strickland. Investigators state both Gunter and Strickland possessed and distributed files of child sexual abuse material.

Gunter was arrested on June 12, 2026. He is charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree (§16-15-405), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count; and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

Strickland was arrested on June 11, 2026. He is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree (§16-15-405), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment; and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

These cases 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 sexual 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.

06/16/2026

In Memory of Sergeant Jeff Flanders

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sergeant Jeff Flanders, a dedicated law enforcement professional, mentor, educator and friend who devoted nearly four decades of service to the citizens of Lexington County.

Jeff began his career with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department in 1984 and faithfully served the community until his retirement in April 2022. Throughout his distinguished career, he worked in numerous capacities, including crime prevention and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, where he positively influenced countless young people and families throughout the county.

In his final assignment, Jeff served with the Sheriff's Community Action Team, continuing his lifelong commitment to building strong relationships between law enforcement and the community. His passion for service extended far beyond the badge, as he dedicated himself to educating, encouraging and inspiring others.

Jeff was widely recognized as a gifted professional speaker, former broadcaster, singer and entertainer. His unique ability to connect with audiences through humor, authenticity and heartfelt storytelling made him a favorite among students, teachers, school administrators, parents and community groups alike. With his unmistakable Southern sense of humor, Jeff delivered powerful messages that left lasting impressions on all who heard him speak.

Perhaps most notably, Jeff was known as the father of "Gertrood the Duck," the beloved ventriloquist character who became a cherished part of his presentations. Through Gertrood, Jeff brought laughter, wisdom and important life lessons to audiences of all ages.

Whether speaking to a classroom of students, training educators, encouraging parents or serving his community as a deputy sheriff, Jeff's message was always clear: one person can make a difference. His life and work embodied that belief, and the impact he made will continue to be felt for generations.

Sergeant Jeff Flanders leaves behind a legacy of service, compassion, humor and inspiration. He will be deeply missed by his law enforcement family, friends and the countless individuals whose lives he touched. Though he is no longer with us, his example reminds us all that a life dedicated to serving others is a life well lived.

Rest easy, Sergeant Flanders. Your watch is complete, but your influence lives on.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Barr-Price Funeral Home.

06/14/2026

On June 14, 1777, the United States adopted its flag. Today we pause to appreciate what it represents and to honor all it stands for.

06/12/2026

Ending the week strong with two detention deputies graduating from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy!

Join us in congratulating deputies Cebada-Charles and Kelly on their graduation this morning. Welcome to the LCSD family! 💙