Inmate escapes from work detail

By Tonia Noe-Rose

April 30, 2008 May 01, 2008 11:53 am

— With the help of several law enforcement agencies, authorities captured state prisoner Jeremy Barnett who attempted an escape Tuesday during work release at Rattlesnake Ridge Water District.
Deputy Jailer Shawn Moore said Barnett walked off duty but was found less than four hours later and returned to the Carter County Detention Center. ÒI was walking around and watching them, but inmates can sometimes be like snakes. You turn your eye off them for a second and theyÕll bite you,Ó Moore commented. ÒHe is a state inmate from La Grange and thatÕs where he will be returned to in the morning. I donÕt what him around me. It didnÕt make sense for him to walk off. He was up for parole and now could have up to five years added to his charge.Ó Moore said Barnett is a level-one prisoner and qualified to work out in the community.
As soon as Barnett left the job site, Moore notified several other law enforcement agencies to help in locating him. Responding to the escape were Kentucky State Police, Carter County SheriffÕs Department and the Elliott County SheriffÕs Department. Barnett was discovered hiding out less than quarter-mile from the water districtÕs property.