Geez- This board always posts my message before I'm ready! Anyways this was on NEWSCOW..
A work-release inmate who failed to return to the Cowley County Jail after working at a local restaurant Wednesday has yet to be apprehended, Undersheriff Don Read said Friday.
Tyler Christian, 22, left work Wednesday afternoon but did not return after his work day ended. Since April, Christian had been serving a sentence for a misdemeanor drug charge and had been in the work release program since May 1.
Read is confident Christian will be located and taken into custody. The incident is officially classified as an escape from custody, so the inmate will face an additional charge when captured.
This is something that doesnt occur very often, Read said. Inmates know theyll have another charge to worry about if they leave and they wont get work release next time around.
By Shane Farley June 30, 2008 - 12:47:49 pm For the second time in less than a week, a Cowley County inmate left his work release assignment and did not return to the county jail in Winfield, according to county Undersheriff Don Read.
Christopher Montgomery, 24, was released from jail to go to work at Winfield Cleaners early Friday morning. Around 12:40 p.m., a manager called to say Montgomery was 15 minutes late returning from lunch.
Employees were questioned about Montgomerys whereabouts but could provide no information.
We knew about it quickly after he left and have been looking for him ever since, Read said.
Montgomery had been in jail since April 4 and was serving time for two misdemeanor probation violations and a failure to appear in Arkansas City municipal court. He has been participating in the work release program since May 13.
Read said unauthorized departures from work release are rare because inmates value being given a chance to work to continue supporting their families. He said having two incidents in a week is nearly unheard of.
Tyler Christian, 22, left work release Wednesday and failed to return after his shift was completed.
Christian has since contacted the sheriffs office and indicated he would turn himself in Monday, Read said.
(Photo: Christopher Montgomery and Tyler Christian)
