Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty To Escape

On July 9, 2015, Kenneth D. Harris, Jr., 47, of Elkville, IL, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging escape, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

Evidence at the plea hearing established that Harris is serving a 63 month sentence for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. In December 2014, the Bureau of Prisons transferred Harris’ custody from Greenville-FCI to Centerstone Residential Reentry Center in Marion. On March 25, 2015, Harris failed to return to Centerstone after being on work-release. Harris did not return to Centerstone and was located and arrested by the United States Marshals Service in Elkville on April 1, 2015.

The offense carries a penalty of up to an additional 5 years of time in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Harris is currently being held without bond pending a November 3, 2015, sentencing hearing.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.