PROVIDENCE - James Morales, 35, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today in U.S. District Court in Providence before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan to an indictment charging him with escape from the Wyatt Detention Facility, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment in this matter on Tuesday, alleging that on Dec. 31, 2016, Morales escaped from the custody of the Wyatt Detention Facility in which he was confined by direction of the Attorney General and her authorized representative, by virtue of an Order of detention of a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Massachusetts.
Morales was captured in Somerville, Massachusetts on January 5, 2017, by Massachusetts State Police and returned to federal custody.
An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Escape from the custody of the Attorney General is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment followed by up to 3 years supervised and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys