SC prison officer arrested, fired after trying to have sex with inmate, warrant says
Editor’s note: This article was updated to remove the defendant’s name after his charge was dismissed in 2022.
A man was fired from Ridgeland Correction Institution last month after letting an inmate out of his cell with the intention of having sex, according to a S.C. Department of Corrections news release.
He was arrested Wednesday and charged with misconduct in office.
He was also fired from his job following his arrest, the release said.
While on duty, the man unlocked an inmate’s cell door “to allow the inmate to exit the cell for the purpose of having a sexual encounter” with him, according to the warrant, which was released Friday.
Another officer discovered the man “in a compromising position with the inmate” in a female bathroom, the warrant said.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and if other crimes come to light, such as criminal sexual conduct, the Department of Corrections will add to the charges, an official with the department said.
Ridgeland Correctional Institution is a male-only, medium-security prison, according to the Department of Corrections.
The charges were dismissed in 2022.
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 3:13 PM.
