Lexington County Woman Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Trafficking Drugs

Lexington, SC 07/24/2026 - Kristen Nicole Foutz, age 44, was convicted by a Lexington County jury on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams. Circuit Court Judge Jocelyn Newman presided over the trial that began on Monday, July 20, 2026, and sentenced Foutz to thirty (30) years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the maximum sentence allowed by law. This conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty-five (25) years due to South Carolina’s graduated drug laws and this being a third or subsequent offense for Foutz. Under South Carolina law, Foutz will not be eligible for parole, and this conviction is classified as a violent, serious offense.

Assistant Solicitors Kyle E. Smith and Suzanne J. Shaw prosecuted this case on behalf of the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (“NET”) conducted the investigation in this case.

On October 31, 2024, Foutz sold over twenty-eight (28) grams of methamphetamine during a narcotics operation in the White Knoll area of Lexington County. During the trial, the jury watched video surveillance of Foutz conducting the drug transaction. Foutz took the stand in her own defense testifying that she only sold a cutting agent instead of actual narcotics. During the trial, the jury heard from the chemist who tested the narcotics were real methamphetamine.

During sentencing, prosecutors informed the Court that this was Foutz’s ninth drug conviction over a period of twenty (20) plus years. She also has prior convictions for aiding escape from custody of officers and providing false information to law enforcement.  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, such as methamphetamine. Foutz will be transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to serve her active prison sentence.