Borallon rooftop prison riot ringleader Jordan Brendan Goodwin sentenced in Ipswich Court

The ringleader behind a 24-hour prison riot, which caused almost a quarter of a million dollars worth of property damage, will have years ahead in lockup before he will even begin serving his new sentence. VIDEO

A grieving inmate’s choice to kick off a 24-hr prison riot last November has proved costly to him and his co-offenders – along with Queensland taxpayers – after they caused over $240,000 worth of damage.

Acacia Ridge’s Jordan Brendan Goodwin, 24, pleaded guilty on November 16, 2023, to one count of riot or mutiny (unlawfully damages/destroys/attempts to damage or destroy property).

Goodwin was the fifth man to be sentenced for his role in a rooftop riot at Borallon Correctional Centre on November 6 last year.

The Ipswich District Court heard he had been the “ringleader” of a group of six inmates that climbed onto the roof of a building, after pulling back mesh wiring in the exercise yard.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said Goodwin had been the last man standing during the riot, having stayed on the roof for approximately 24 hours before coming down.

During that time, the prison was put into lockdown and some inmates caused damage to their cells attempting to provide rations to the rooftop, the court heard.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said some of those inmates threatened guards that they would hurt them if they got out of their cells.

Goodwin and co-offender Percy Orcher, 22, had also caused damage while on the rooftop to CCTV cameras and rooftop vents.

Judge Horneman-Wren said the two men had threatened staff, and Goodwin also threw items at them off the side of the roof.

Orcher and another co-offender Jarvis Kool, 22, were sentenced last week to 10 months jail each over their role in the offending, for the same charge of riot or mutiny (unlawfully damages/destroys/attempts to damage or destroy property).

One more man is expected to be sentenced for his involvement later this year, on December 6.

Jarvis Michael John Kool (pictured) was sentenced on November 8, 2023, for his role in a Borallon prison riot a year prior.

Defence barrister Cecelia Bernardin said her client had experienced a difficult upbringing.

His father had been in custody for most of his childhood and had since passed away due to a drug overdose.

Goodwin himself had four children, who he hoped to become an active father too when released from custody, Ms Bernardin said.

She said he had been struggling at the time of the riot with the loss of a close friend, who had also been known to some of his co-offenders.

Goodwin had been feeling “incredibly isolated” but gained “some form of feeling of control” on the roof, Ms Bernardin explained.

“That context only goes so far,” Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said.

“There are at least five others that are going to serve significant prison terms as a consequence of getting involved with what he’s started.”

The court heard Goodwin had a significant criminal history.

He had been sentenced in February to eight years imprisonment for armed robbery in company using personal violence, which took place in Sunnybank Hills on January 24, 2022.

Goodwin’s parole eligibility date was already set for November 24, 2025, as a result – with a full time discharge date on December 9, 2031.

Judge Horneman-Wren said the sentence he imposed today could not start before that date, which he noted would be Goodwin’s 33rd birthday.

“Yours was not an easy early life,” he told Goodwin.

“But it must be observed that your own actions since have overtaken all of that.”

“As I noted in sentencing your co-accused last week, general deterrence is very important when sentencing for a prison riot offence. These offences strike at the very heart of prison discipline and order.”

Goodwin was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, to be served cumulatively on top of the sentence he was already serving.

His 304 days of presentence custody were taken into account but not formally declared as time-served.

His parole eligibility date remained unchanged at November 24, 2025.