The Union County Prosecutor says a man who escaped from West Central Community based Correctional Facility (CBCF) should have never been there.
The Union County Grand Jury recently indicted James C. Saunders, 31, of Columbus, charging him with escape and possessing criminal tools.
“He is not somebody who should normally be at West Central,” Phillips said.
He added, “CBCF is not intended to be a high level security facility.”
In July 2007, Saunders robbed, then shot and killed 75-year-old Garland Massie in the victim’s Columbus home. He was charged with murder as well as aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, robbery and tampering with evidence, all with a gun. Saunders eventually agreed to plead guilty to aggravated robbery if the other charges were dropped. As part of the agreement, Saunders and prosecutors recommended a six-year prison sentence.
In 2017, Saunders pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of drugs in 2017. At that time, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
According to Franklin County court records, he has a number of arrests and convictions since his release. Those convictions include for domestic violence, complicity, theft, possession of drugs, burglary and robbery.
In 2018, Saunders was charged in Franklin County with two counts of burglary, with a specification that would have classified him as a repeat violent offender. As part of a plea agreement, Saunders admitted to one count of robbery and the state dropped the second charge as well as the specification that Saunders is a repeat violent offender. He was sentenced to two years in prison with three years of post-release control.
Saunders arrived at West Central on March 18.
West Central Community Correctional Facility Executive Director David Ervin said “there is no question” that Saunders was planning an escape. Phillips said Saunders had discussions with other inmates about his intent to escape.
Phillips explained that residents at the CBCF have different shirts indicating different securities and responsibilities inside the facility.
Officials said Saunders was seen “looking around” in the dining room, focusing on the back door in the kitchen area.
According to court documents, on March 31, Saunders got a shirt indicating he had permission to be part of a kitchen crew.
Phillips said that when members of the kitchen staff took trash out the back door, “he walked out the rear door.” He said Saunders did not need to push or force his way out.
West Central security officers did not pursue Saunders, but the Union County Sheriff’s Office was notified immediately.
According to reports from the Sheriff’s Office, an “extensive search” was conducted by deputies, units from the Marysville Police Department, Plain City Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
About 8:30 p.m. that day, Saunders was found “hiding in a wooded area in the 14000 block of U.S. 36.”
At that point, Saunders was arrested and transported to the Tri-County Regional Jail.
Ervin said escape attempts from West Central are uncommon.
“This was very unusual,” Ervin said.
He noted that he believes there has only been one other incident in West Central’s history in which a resident attempted to brazenly leave.
Phillips said the Ohio Department of Rehabilitations and Corrections has started sentencing more violent offenders to CBCF. He said that has led to more problems.
Phillips said that as more violent offenders are being sentenced to the local CBCF, there are more problems.
“We have had any number of times the sheriff has gone to West Central to arrest people after incidents at the facility,” Phillips said.
He added that, “they really are not equipped to deal with some of these inmates.”
If convicted on the new charges, Saunders could face as many as six years in prison.
Also indicted is:
– Timothy L. Widger, 44, of Columbus. Widger is charged with one count of possession of a Fentanyl-related compound, stemming from an Oct. 8 incident. If convicted, Widger could face as many as 12 months in prison.
– Trevor Allen Eickemeyer, 21, of 15601 Meadowbrook Drive. Eickemeyer is charged with one count of receiving stolen property, stemming from a March 16 incident. Police were called to the parking lot of the Shiloh Centre Offices on Square Drive. The caller reported a suspicious vehicle and person. When police arrived, they found Eickemeyer sleeping inside a silver Chevy S10. The license plate did not match the vehicle and came back to a Ford registered to a nearby store. When officers contacted store officials, they said they had not given anyone consent to take the plates off their vehicle. When asked about how the plates got onto his truck, Eickemeyer named another man as putting the plates on his truck. Eickemeyer’s plates had been confiscated due to a suspension.
If convicted, Eickemeyer could face as many as 12 months in prison.
– Joshua Reuter, 32, of 214 N. Court St. Reuter is charged with one count of burglary.
According to court documents, about 1:29 p.m. March 31, police were called to a local convenience store. A store employee told police that Reuter is not allowed in the store after previous incidents and an altercation. Reuter was allegedly in the store. When he was told he couldn’t be there, Reuter allegedly cursed at the employee and told her he didn’t care.
“Reuter then went behind the counter and took a package of cigarettes,” according to court documents.
If convicted, Reuter could face as many as eight years in prison.
– Mason Carter Lotz, 18, of 218 N. Court St. Lotz is charged with one count each of grand theft of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.
According to court documents, on March 15, police spoke with a woman who said Lotz is a mental health consumer and she is his caretaker. The woman said that earlier in the week she was working with Lotz and her Apple watch died. She said she took it off and put it on the dashboard in her car.
The woman said she had driven Lotz around in her vehicle for several days and they were both in and out of the vehicle many times. At some point she noticed her watch was missing. The manager of the home where Lotz lives contacted the woman to say someone turned in her watch which had been found under Lotz’s pillow.
The watch was returned.
When confronted, Lotz told investigators he took the watch and was going to trade it for a pair of shoes but someone took it from under his pillow.
If convicted, Lotz could face as many as 36 months in prison.