He escaped SC prison — and was back in hours later, officials say

An inmate who escaped a South Carolina prison early Monday and stole a vehicle was captured after less than two hours on the run, according to the S.C. Department of Corrections.

Brandon Jones escaped just after 2:15 a.m. from Wateree Correctional Institution in Sumter County, corrections spokesman Jeff Taillon said. Details about how Jones escaped were not available Monday.

Jones was apprehended by Florence County sheriff’s deputies at 3:50 a.m., Taillon said. He stole a vehicle during his escape and the vehicle was recovered, Taillon said.

Jones was serving a five-year sentence for a nonviolent second-degree burglary conviction, officials said.

Wateree Correctional is an 8,000-acre facility that houses the Department of Corrections’ farming and dairy operations, Taillon said.

This story was originally published July 23, 2018 at 6:42 AM.