CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Sissonville man pled guilty to escape, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Edward Lee Lewis, 51, pled guilty to escaping from Dismas Charites, a halfway house, in St. Albans, West Virginia.
“Escape attempts are a bad idea," said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “U.S. Marshals will always find you. And then my office will prosecute you."
Lewis admitted that on Dec. 20, 2018, he was lawfully confined at Dismas Charities in St. Albans, West Virginia, at the direction of the Attorney General by virtue of a revocation of supervised release and judgment order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. On Jan. 17, 2019, at approximately 4:50 p.m., Dismas staff were unable to locate Lewis and notified the United States Marshals Service. Lewis was given permission to leave Dismas earlier in the day to look for employment with instructions to return no later than 4:30 p.m., but he did not return as instructed. At the time Dismas staff were unable to locate him, Lewis did not have authority to be absent from the Dismas Charities facility. On Jan. 22, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for Lewis’ arrest for escape. On July 19, 2019, Lewis was arrested by the United States Marshals Service the outstanding arrest warrant.
Lewis faces up to five years in prison when sentenced on December 5, 2019.
The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is handling the prosecution.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
