Spartanburg County Detention Deputy Arrested for Contraband

A Spartanburg County Detention Center deputy was arrested Wednesday morning at his home, accused of smuggling contraband into the facility.

Joey Dean Ghant, 40, of Chesnee, was employed at the jail as a detention deputy when he brought contraband into the facility between May 9 and May 28, according to sheriff's arrest warrants of Spartanburg County, Chuck Wright. At a news conference Wednesday morning at the prison, Wright said Ghant had brought contraband into the prison on at least two occasions, although he said more cases could be uncovered as the The investigation is progressing.

Although he would not provide specific information about an ongoing investigation, Wright said investigators know tobacco was involved, but “it could be something else, of course.”

Ghant was charged with public misconduct in office and accepting a bribe or improper influence as a public official. He had been employed at the prison as a Class 2 law enforcement officer since April 2023, according to his personnel file from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. So far, Ghant is the only person arrested and charged, Wright said.