Inmate escapes from jail (5/10/04)

Police are looking for a white male, age 31, who escaped from the Jay County Jail at 6 a.m. today.

Jay County police said Jon D. Lanham, Attica, who was arrested on a warrant through Jay Circuit Court on March 13 for forgery, a class C felony, walked out of the jail while cleaning the front lobby of the security center. Lanham was a trustee for the jail and did various cleaning jobs. Police said he had the job because police trusted him.

Once Lanham’s escape was known, Portland police began searching the area immediately. The Redkey post of the Indiana State Police was also notified of his escape.

Lanham is described as being 6 feet 3 inches tall, 230 pounds. He has short hair and is clean-shaven. He was wearing a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants when he left the jail. It is not known whether he fled on foot or in a vehicle, but Jay County police said no cars had been reported missing as of 8:15 a.m. He is not believed to be armed.

Lanham allegedly forged a check for $500 in Jay County on November 30, 2001. A warrant for his arrest was issued on December 17, 2001. A Jay Circuit Court jury trial has been set for September 16.

Jay County Sheriff Todd Penrod said paperwork will be filed with the prosecutor today, for another warrant for Lanham’s arrest. The warrant will be for escape, a class C felony.

It is unknown whether Lanham was assisted in his escape, but he does have relatives in Illinois, Jay County police said.[[In-content Ad]]