Lavon Bernard Julius, age 43, originally from Columbia, was convicted Wednesday afternoon by a Lexington County jury, after approximately thirty minutes of deliberations, for the Murder of Zeloni Ellison, age 15. The trial began on Monday, December 11, 2023, with jury selection. The Honorable Walton J. McLeod, IV, presided overContinue Reading

Record-setting Sheriff’s Department welcomes holiday shoppers in northeast Columbia By W. Thomas Smith Jr. FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) – primarily RCSD’s command staff and members of RCSD’s Community Action Team – were outContinue Reading

Lt. Jonathan Brock, serving as the assistant commander for the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department’s west patrol region, has successfully graduated from the prestigious FBI’s National Academy located in Quantico, Virginia. Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon expressed his appreciation for Lt. Brock’s accomplishment, highlighting the positive impact it will have onContinue Reading

Chief Terrence Green is announcing to the Town of Lexington community that our annual Toys for Tots “Pack the Pontoon” toy collection has begun and will continue through December with donation events planned at Learning Express, Target at Lexington Pavilion, Tractor Supply, Walmart, Clutch Coffee, at the Snowball Festival eventsContinue Reading

FBI Director Christopher Wray visited the FBI’s Columbia Field Office to celebrate the official opening of the new facility in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Wray, joined by federal, state, and local partners, highlighted recent successes of criminal investigations by the field office and reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to the people ofContinue Reading

Lexington County deputies have arrested a 19-year-old from Blythewood accused of firing shots that injured a man in a restaurant parking lot last summer. Trennis Lakeith Sumpter Jr. is charged with attempted murder, criminal conspiracy and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to arrest warrants. “Detectives haveContinue Reading

Lexington County, the Solicitor’s Office ran two criminal courts with two visiting Circuit Court Judges. While one courtroom handled nearly 100 matters, the other courtroom conducted two separate, unrelated trials. Please find below details regarding both of these trials. Victoria Ann Gregorio, age 59, was convicted on Tuesday, October 24,Continue Reading