MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The State Attorney for the Fifth District hopes the sentencing of an Ocala man on drug and battery charges sends a strong message to criminals.

The State Attorney’s Office (SAO) says 25-year-old Jordan Lil’Chris Foster pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and trafficking illicit narcotics including fentanyl on Tuesday morning and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

25-year-old Jordan Lil’Chris Foster was sentenced to 13 years in prison for guilty pleas in two cases. Courtesy: SAO

Authorities say both charges stemmed from incidents that happened in 2022. In April of that year, the Ocala Police Department’s (OPD) Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) team responded to a home located on the 1700 block of NW 18th Street to execute a search warrant of the residence.

The SAO says after an extensive investigation, they determined that Foster had various amounts of illegal drugs that he was selling out of the home. He was arrested at the scene and transported to the Marion County Jail on multiple drug charges.

Foster’s mugshot from his arrest on April 15, 2022, after authorities discovered he was selling drugs out of a home. Courtesy: Marion County Jail

After bonding out, he was rearrested on September 7, 2022, for another incident. Authorities say Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies responded to an apartment complex in Ocala. They say they were informed by a victim and witness that Foster entered the victim’s car and residence to retrieve an item, battering the victim in the process.

Foster’s mugshot from his arrest on September 7, 2022. Courtesy: Marion County Jail

Shortly after, deputies located Foster and a child. He was arrested on multiple charges including burglary of a dwelling, burglary of a conveyance, domestic battery, and interfering with the custody of a child. He was held at the Marion County Jail with no bond.

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“Despite repeated interventions and opportunities for rehabilitation, Foster persisted in his criminal behavior, posing an ongoing threat to our community’s safety and well-being,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “It is imperative that we take decisive action to ensure the protection of our citizens and deter further harm. Foster’s sentencing sends a powerful message – to our community will not tolerate the devastating impact of drug trafficking and violence in our neighborhoods.”