Pope v. Gordon

CURETON, A.J.

The State brought this civil forfeiture action pursuant to section 44-53-520(a) of the South Carolina Code of Laws. 1 The State appeals the circuit court’s order returning property to Willie Edward Gordon, Jr. (“Gordon”). We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand. 2

FACTS

This forfeiture action arose from the arrest of Gordon in September of 1996 for trafficking in crack cocaine. At the time of his arrest, Gordon was the owner of Gordon’s Car Cleaning Service, an unincorporated business whose principal venture was the cleaning and detailing of automobiles for car dealerships…