ST. GEORGE — A local man was sentenced to 17 years in prison after being convicted of arson and smuggling contraband into a state prison.
Joshua Bryan Jordan, 34, was found guilty on June 25 by a Dorchester County jury of second-degree arson, attempting to furnish contraband, and criminal conspiracy. Ninth Circuit Judge Deadra Jefferson imposed the 17-year sentence, which will run concurrently with a previous 11-year sentence for accessory to murder.
According to authorities, Jordan was charged alongside Gavin Shane Griffin, who testified against him. Griffin's pending charges include drug possession and operating a drone near a correctional facility. Jordan's arson conviction stemmed from a January 2022 incident in which he set fire to the home of a Lieber Correctional Institute officer, believed to be targeted for his role in contraband seizures.
Jordan's arrest in February 2022 followed the crash of a drone he operated, which was found carrying approximately half a kilogram of marijuana, tobacco, and other items intended for smuggling into the prison. Reports indicate that authorities recovered more illicit substances and equipment upon his apprehension.
This incident is part of a larger trend, with over 200 contraband smuggling attempts reported at South Carolina Department of Corrections facilities in 2022. In response, lawmakers have extended no-fly zones around prisons to 1,500 feet and increased penalties for drone usage.
Jordan had been previously arrested after being caught attempting to smuggle contraband into Lee Correctional Institute in April 2023.