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| Escapee from van sentenced |
| By Helena Independent Record |
| Published: 12/15/2004 |
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One of the convicts who escaped from a prison transport van in Helena, Mont., in September was sentenced last week in connection with his role in the incident. Jasper Levi Phillips told District Court Judge Thomas Honzel that he was guilty of the charge against him and Honzel handed him a five-year sentence to be served consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving at Montana State Prison. Phillips' criminal history includes convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, theft and burglary. Law enforcement officers swarmed to the parking lot at Burger King on 11th Avenue on Sept. 2 after receiving reports that a group of inmates had peeled a screen off a back window in a transport van and made a break for freedom. Phillips was immediately apprehended in the parking lot outside the fast food restaurant by one of the guards charged with transporting the men to Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. Brian Holliday was arrested soon later after he allegedly rushed up to a couple sitting in a truck in the area in which the escape occurred and tried to hijack their vehicle. Russell Rex VanKirk - who is serving a life sentence for the 1995 murder of Helena resident Tamara Pengra - eluded police for several hours along with another inmate, William Brown. However, both men were caught within hours of the escape. VanKirk, Brown and Holliday all pleaded not guilty to the charge of escape filed against them and are expected to go to trial next year. Holliday also faces a charge of attempted theft in connection with his alleged failed attempt at stealing a truck. Phillips' plea last week came as part of an agreement with the Lewis and Clark County Attorney's Office in which prosecutors agreed not to request that Phillips be designated a persistent felony offender in return for the guilty plea. In addition, officials agreed not to seek restitution for the cost of the man-hunt that followed the escape. |
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