An Oktibbeha County Jail trustee who walked off the job Saturday afternoon was taken into custody Monday morning and charged with escape.
Ceforrest Hendrix, 31, was in jail for a forgery conviction, but, being a non-violent offender, was allowed to serve as a trustee for the county. Trustees work for the county and often run errands around downtown Starkville.
According to Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan, Hendrix went missing about 3 p.m. Saturday, but left a note apologizing for his absence. The note said Hendrix “had to take care of something,” but he promised to be back before lockdown, Bryan said.
“I”ve been doing this for 34 years and I”ve never seen anything like that before,” Bryan said.
The Sheriff”s Office immediately began searching for Hendrix, Bryan said, but he was not located him until about 3 a.m. Monday, when he was taken into custody and returned to Oktibbeha County Jail. Hendrix subsequently was charged with escape, which carries a sentence of up to five years.
“We got him back and now he”s going to do five years for it,” Bryan said.
Inmates are screened carefully before they are allowed to serve as trustees, Bryan said. Only non-violent inmates, who the sheriff can trust to not walk off, are selected, he said.
“I”m surprised (Hendrix) did it,” Bryan said. “He”s not that bad of a guy. How many guys are going to leave you a note?”
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