Federal inmate pleads guilty to escape

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A federal inmate who was caught approximately a mile from Raleigh General Hospital pleaded guilty today, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Jody Ladd Dellenback, 30, entered his guilty plea to escape.

Dellenback admitted that on August 25, 2016, he ran away from his Bureau of Prisons escort after the completion of his medical examination at Raleigh General Hospital. Law enforcement authorities searched the area and found him about two hours later, slightly over a mile from the hospital. Dellenback was serving an 18-month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution at Beckley for unauthorized use of a credit card.

Dellenback faces up to an additional five years in federal prison when he is sentenced on February 8, 2017.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons with assistance from the Beckley Police Department, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney John File is handling the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.

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