Inmate who escaped is back in custody

Yakima Herald-Republic


Links
Email_black_18  E-mail           Print_black_18  Print            Talk_black_18  Comments
Advertisement

More 'Local'

  1. Snoqualmie and White passes both open this morning
  2. Union Gap man knocked unconscious after being struck by pickup
  3. Woman hit by car on North First Street
  4. Photo: Ringing in the holidays
  5. Officer injured in traffic stop gone awry
  6. President of Pacific Northwest University abruptly leaves
  7. Snoqualmie Pass shut for avalanche control
More Stories:   Today's News | This Week

 

YAKIMA -- An inmate who walked away from the state's West Valley work-release center is back behind bars thanks to help from the Yakima County Violent Crime Task Force.

Billy Eugene Garner, who was convicted in 2007 for vehicular homicide in Spokane, was caught Wednesday in Ritzville after police and sheriff's deputies found him at a motel, task force officials said.

Task force investigators had learned that Garner fled to Ritzville with his brother, according to a news release issued Thursday.

Garner, 49, was serving the last six months of his 41-month sentence on the work-release side of the Ahtanum View Correctional Complex. He had most recently been confined to the prison on the same property on 64th Avenue near Occidental Avenue.

He was given a pass to go to a local store on Saturday, said Maria Peterson, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections.

When he didn't return, an alert was issued to law enforcement agencies.

Instead of being released in November, he is now expected to face felony escape charges.



Commentsicon2
Posted by Nick at 05/29/09 06:17AM        Post ID#: #4293

Last six months? Stupidity reigns. Now he will get added time in a more secure facility.

Report Violation
Posted by skinnymulligan at 05/29/09 08:30AM        Post ID#: #4308

He was given a pass to go to a local store??

That's funny, I could have sworn I read somewhere in that article that he had killed somebody and was serving a sentence for that. Way to crack down!

Report Violation
Posted by isitfriday at 05/31/09 12:24PM        Post ID#: #4357

How on earth does someone who commits a homicide EVER qualify for a pass to go to the store while serving their sentence?!

Report Violation
Log in or Register to leave a comment.

Posting Guidelines - Updated Aug. 21 2009
Readers are encouraged to use these forums to discuss issues affecting the Yakima Valley. Debate the ideas presented in stories and other comments, but refrain from personal attacks and offensive remarks aimed at others; e.g., you may call an idea idiotic, but don't say the person is an idiot. The Herald-Republic reserves the right to remove any comment for any reason. Examples include material that is obscene, encourages illegal activity or stereotypes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and other factors. Continued violation of these guidelines can lead to suspension or revocation of your ability to post comments. If you believe a comment is inappropriate, you can bring it to our attention by clicking the "report violation" link by each comment. Guidelines revised Aug. 21, 2009.

Registered User?