23-year-old Shane Cates appeared in Daviess Superior Court yesterday to face his charge of escape.
Cates, in the custody of the Sheriff’s Department, was being treated at Daviess Community Hospital on February 15th after swallowing ink pens at the jail. He told authorities and hospital staff he wanted to take a shower and that’s when he escaped through a 2nd story window. He was on the lamb for several days but was captured this past Saturday morning at a Washington home.
The Washington Times Herald reports that prosecutors told the judge they intend to file additional charges against Cates for being a habitual criminal. Cates was in jail originally on assault charges.
Brandon Smith was appointed as Cates’ attorney and an omnibus hearing was set for April 12th with a trial date set for June 4th.
Daviess County Sheriff Jerry Harbstreit told the paper that charges may be brought against those who allegedly helped Cates after he escaped.