Chowan County Jail Escapee Sentenced to Nine Years on Federal Firearms Charges

RALEIGH, N.C. – An Albemarle man, who escaped from a Chowan County Jail, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after he was apprehended two days after his escape with a loaded .40 caliber firearm.  On April 16, 2024, Russell Heath, age 48, pled guilty to the charge.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Heath escaped from the Chowan County Jail in the evening hours of October 19, 2022. He escaped by placing a correctional officer in a headlock and holding a shank to his neck while threatening to kill him if another correctional officer did not place his cell phone in a trash can. After the officers complied with his orders, Heath locked them in a jail cell and fled after changing into street clothes. On October 21, 2022, Currituck County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a citizen call in Moyock (approximately 50 miles away) regarding a suspicious man, later identified as Heath, who was seen on residential video cameras. Deputies encountered Heath walking in the area and attempted to apprehend him. Heath began backing away and then struggled with deputies. They fell into a ditch where Heath was ultimately tased as he was grabbing towards his waistband. After tasing Heath a second time, Deputies noticed a loaded .40 caliber firearm on the ground near Heath. Deputies were able to safely take Heath into custody at that point. Heath provided a false name and date of birth to deputies.

Heath has a lengthy criminal history that includes a 2009 conviction for second-degree kidnapping, and a 2023 conviction for three counts of breaking and entering. Heath has pled guilty to two counts of second-degree kidnapping and one count of felony escape from a local jail in connection with his escape in October 2022.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. Currituck County Sheriff’s Office and ATF investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-CR-6-BO-RN.