Two Georgia inmates in the Floyd County Jail could only dig about 5 to 6 inches on a journey they hoped would lead to freedom, but the short trip still netted the same charges that would have come with a more successful attempt, jail officials said last week.  According to Floyd County Jail records, Charles David Thomas, 35, and Dewayne Earl Johnston, 40, were charged with felony interference with government property, attempting to escape and possession of a dangerous weapon by an inmate.
The attempt was discovered while jail officials were conducting a cell search. Deputies noticed toothpaste and toilet paper stuffed into the outer edge of their window frame where mortar had been removed in an area about 5 to 6 inches deep. A hole was found underneath the window of about the same depth.
A 17-inch-long shank was found in the room's lower vent that had been used to do the digging. It was a metal rod removed from one of the jail's mop ringers, said Maj. Tony Daniel, jail administrator. The equipment is inspected weekly, but the missing piece had been overlooked, he said.
“We are always on the lookout for it,” he said. “These guys are always trying something.”
It is the fourth such attempt by inmates this year, but no one have gotten close to actually escaping, he said.
Any inmate who digs into the wall is charged, said Sheriff Tim Burkhalter. “We'll charge them if they make it 1 inch or if they make it 3 feet.”
Johnston was awaiting trial for failure to appear for court on charges of theft by receiving and burglary, and failure to appear on two counts of theft by taking and two counts of burglary and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, said Floyd officer Jeff Ploof.
Bail was set at $6,050 for Johnston's three charges related to his escape attempt, but he does not have bail set for his initial charges. Thomas was in jail awaiting trial for charges of first degree forgery. His total bail is $7,550.