Arkansas Jail Closed After Escapes, Might “Put A Hurt” on Bail Business
Arkansas Jail Closed After Escapes, Might “Put A Hurt” on Bail Business
The Yell County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) closed its jail in Dardanelle, Arkansas in March 2013 after three prisoners escaped by strong-arming the lone guard working on a Sunday.
Bret Cooksey, Seth Chowning and Jacqueline Stobaugh – originally booked on burglary charges from a nearby town – overpowered the guard and fled on March 17, 2013, according to YCSO officials. All three were recaptured by the end of the day after Stobaugh was found hiding in a shed just a few blocks from the jail.
At the time of the escape the jail held seven prisoners and should have been staffed by at least two people. But the jail has apparently been short-staffed for years.
"You're required to give inmates time outside, you have to move prisoners," said YCSO Capt. John Foster. "A lot of time on weekend and night shift you're just shorthanded 'cause we just don't have the funding."
Kindle Lancaster, who runs a bail-bond business that profits off those incarcerated at the Dardanelle jail and another in nearby Danville, said that her bottom line will likely be affected by the jail's closure. But ultimately, she said, community safety takes top priority.
"Because most of my business comes from this jail, with them closing it yes, it could put a hurt on me," Lancaster said days after the escape. "For everyone around this area, [the jail's closure is] for their safety if you don't have two people there. What happened over the weekend, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner than this."
Cooksey, Chowning and Stobaugh now face additional charges of escape, kidnapping and battery. Each of their bonds was set at $1 million.
The jail guard on duty at the time of the escape was reportedly uninjured.
Source: http://ozarksfirst.com
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