Escapee captured

 

Photo by Greg Bird
Sheriff Randy Waters takes Joshua New in to custody Tuesday night after the escapee spent a week on the run following his jail-break from Leslie County Detention.

 

By Greg Bird
birdman@tmcvoice.com

A week of freedom is all Joshua New was able to manage after he walked away from a Leslie County Jail work detail last Tuesday.
McCreary County Sheriff Randy Waters, along with Deputies Cody Stephens, Charles Perry and Tommy Lewis were able to capture the escaped inmate Tuesday night in Smithtown, ending his brief respite and most likely leading to and additional five to 10 years of jail time for the subject.

Sheriff Waters stated he had received information New was likely hiding at a residence located off Highway 92 in Smithtown Tuesday evening. He and his deputies went to the location, surrounded the residence and made entry. New was found inside and captured without incident.
He was transported back to jail that evening where he faces escape and persistent felony offender charges. According to the Leslie County Detention Center New was already serving time for fleeing/evading, public intoxication, resisting arrest, menacing, failure to appear and parole violation charges at the time of his escape. Additional charges may be levied against him as he reportedly broke in to a Letcher County home following his escape, and attempted to persuade the home owner to drive him back to McCreary County.
New reportedly told Sheriff Waters that he did not remember walking away from the work crew, and had no reasoning for his escape. New had only a few weeks remaining on his original sentence at the time and was set to be released.

Leslie County Jailer Danny Clark said New was serving time in the Leslie County Detention Center for previous drug offenses last week when he left the facility as part of a jail work-release crew cutting trees near the Letcher County and Perry County line. New reportedly told the supervising officer he needed to use the restroom, but never returned – setting off a multi-county search.
At this time it is unclear if New had any assistance in the escape or returning to his home in McCreary County. An investigation is underway.