/ Local News

05/16/2008

Associated Press

An escaped inmate from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office prison was captured late Thursday after allegedly committing a home invasion and car theft.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman Kim Myers said Jeremiah L. Benoit, 30, was apprehended at a gas station by Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office deputies.

Benoit was in jail on a probation violation for forgery, authorities said.

Deputies said that Benoit, who was on trusty status when he apparently walked out a back door at the prison on Wednesday, allegedly forced his way into a home in south Lake Charles Wednesday afternoon, tied up an elderly woman and stole her car.

The woman was able to free herself at about 4 a.m. Thursday and called a family member, who then called 911, deputies said.

Commander of Corrections Vic Salvador said Thursday that Benoit became an "inside trusty" at the prison after a lengthy evaluation and interview process.

Inside trustys usually perform housekeeping duties in the jail, while the outside trustys collect litter and do outdoor labor, Salvador said.

"The inside trustys are kept inside the facility because they are considered a bigger risk than the outside trustys," he said.

The inmates wear colored uniforms, depending on their job assignments, but Benoit was wearing a different-colored uniform on the day of his escape, Salvador said.

"Because he had the wrong-colored uniform on, he had access to other areas inside the jail," he said.

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Information from: American Press, http://www.americanpress.com