Colorado Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced for Helping a Prisoner Escape
Colorado Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced for Helping a Prisoner Escape
On April 7, 2013, Colorado prisoner Feliz Trujillo walked out of the Denver Detention Center unchallenged, dressed in a police uniform. Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Andrews supplied Trujillo with the disguise and escorted him out of the prison.
Strapped for cash Andrews’ relationship with Trujillo started with the ex-guard bringing a cell phone into the jail. Trujillo had showed Andrews pictures of fancy cars and the deputy assumed that Trujillo had access to a lot of money. Even though the deal with the cell phone didn’t net Andrews the $1,500 he wanted his greed kept him dealing with Trujillo.
At some point the two started talking about Andrews helping Trujillo escape. They agreed to a deal that would net Andrews $500,000 for his efforts. To cement the deal Trujillo gave Andrews a number he said belonged to his brother. It was actually the number to the cell phone Andrews had brought into the jail for Trujillo.
“Yeah, He’s pretty dumb,” said Trujillo “I sent him pictures of money, big bags of money and right when I sent it to him he ran to my cell and said, ‘Your brother sent me pictures….I know it’s for real!’”
On April 7th Andrews brought Trujillo a police uniform and told him to put it on. As other prisoners watched with disbelief the two marched side by side straight out the front door. At one point Andrews tried to convince Trujillo to shoot him in the leg to make it look real but Trujillo refused.
Once away the two drove to a building where Trujillo’s brother allegedly lived. He told Andrews to wait in the car while he went to get the money. Trujillo then proceeded to walk into the front of the building and out the back as Andrews waited nervously in the parking lot.
“And just for an hour he kept texting, ‘Can I come up? Everyone is starting to get suspicious.” Trujillo told reporters. Trujillo eventually responded with two words, “Deals off” and broke the phone.
A tearful Andrews returned to the detention center claiming a man he thought was Trujillo’s brother threatened him with a gun to help Trujillo escape. His story fell apart when Trujillo turned himself in three days later.
On January 24, 2014, Andrews pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant and was sentenced to six years in prison. Trujillo is now serving 34 years for escape and a 2012 robbery.
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