A man charged in a January 2016 murder was denied bond Monday after his second drug arrest in six months.

Liberty County Superior Court Judge Paul Rose denied bond after a hearing for Thomas Edward Jordan, 29, who was arrested by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Response Team at a Hinesville residence March 23.

Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigator Steven Coleman said Jordan was monitored as he made five separate purchases from a confidential informant wired for audio and video.

Coleman said that in four of the five videos Jordan’s face is seen clearly.

Coleman said Jordan said he was selling drugs because he had no job.

Jordan’s defense attorney, John Ely, said that if Jordan made bond he would live at a home at Governor’s Quarters and that he had a job waiting.

But Atlantic Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Abigail Long argued that when Jordan was arrested March 23 he was out on bond for the murder charge and another drug charge from September 2016.

Case background

Jordan reportedly turned himself in to the LCSO a week after a Jan. 25, 2016 shooting that left Kenneth Lee Jackson dead. He was charged with murder, assault and weapons charges after Jackson was found shot outside his home at Cedar Hill Mobile Home Park.

Authorities said the two men argued outside the mobile home before Jackson was killed.

Jordan’s initial bond was set at $500,000 on March 14, 2016. But that amount was reduced to $250,000 one month later after a hearing held before Liberty County Superior Court Judge Jay Stewart, and Jordan posted bond July 29.

Just two months later, in September, Jordan was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a scheduled IV controlled substance and possession of marijuana less than an ounce.

At that time Long filed a motion to have Jordan’s murder bond revoked under Judger Rose.

In the meantime Jordan went before Superior Court Judge Glen Cheney for the September drug charges and bond was set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 property.

Jordan was allowed at that time to continue on his previous bond under the condition that he wear an ankle monitor at his own cost, be responsible for the bond set on his September drug charges, follow the law, appear at court hearings and avoid contact with any and all witnesses in his murder case.

Jordan paid his bond Nov. 28 and was released.

During Monday’s hearing. Long said Jordan’s ankle monitor failed to work and court workers couldn’t monitor his location.  

Court records show Jordan has a lengthy criminal record, with several drug charges as well charges for burglary, aggravated assault, simple battery and other minor and domestic offenses.

He also served five years at Macon State Prison for aggravated assault and was released July 22, 2014.