Lexington, SC 01/29/2024 (Paul Kirby) - Kaleb Thomas Besancon, age 19, of Lexington, pled guilty on January 24, 2024, to one count of Armed Robbery and one count of Burglary Second Degree Violent in Lexington County stemming from two separate incidents. Circuit Court Judge William P. Keesley presided over the guilty plea and sentenced Besancon to 20 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections for armed robbery. Judge Keesley also sentenced Besancon to 10 years for the burglary and ran these sentences consecutively. Besancon will have to serve 30 years in prison. Under South Carolina law, armed robbery is classified as a violent, most serious, and “no parole” offense.
On November 13, 2022, Besancon entered the Circle K located on Augusta Highway in the West Columbia area of Lexington County wearing a mask and armed with a gun. While pointing the pistol at the cashier, Besancon stole money from the cash register and vape pens. After fleeing the store, Besancon was located and detained by a Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputy. Besancon had the stolen money, the stolen vape pens, and a fully loaded firearm still with him. After he was arrested, the magistrate set a surety bond. Besancon was able to post his bond on February 15, 2023.
While out on bond, on June 5, 2023, Besancon and two co-defendants broke into an occupied residence shortly after midnight in the Lexington area of the county. They were wearing masks and armed with firearms. Besancon forcefully kicked the door and left the frame on the living room floor. The group then fled in a silver Dodge Charger. The incident was captured on the victim’s doorbell camera.
Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the home and the group was gone. While deputies were still on scene, the Dodge Charger returned to the area. When deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the car fled the scene at a high rate of speed. Deputies were later notified of a collision involving this vehicle. When deputies responded to the scene of the collision, with the assistance of a K9 unit they were able to apprehend Besancon and his co-defendants hiding in the woods and recovered one firearm.
Besancon’s bond was revoked during an emergency bond revocation hearing at the request of Assistant Solicitor Ashley Wellman who handled the prosecution of these case. These cases were investigated by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Besancon will be transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to begin service of his sentence.

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