A Starkville woman accused of aiding a prisoner escape state custody is free on $5,000 bond.
Mary Virginia “Jenna” Rhea, 20, who is from Columbus, was released from Pearl River County Jail late Monday afternoon after being arrested Feb. 8 for helping Johnny Hall escape two Wilkinson County Prison officers at his father’s wake in Picayune.
Rhea was arrested by Bogalusa, La., police after Hall and Rhea led police on a 26-mile chase from Picayune to Bogalusa, where police had a roadblock set up on Highway 10 at the state line.
Purvis police were also in pursuit when Rhea and Hall ran into a ditch. Rhea stayed in the car while Hall fled into a wooded area nearby. Hall was captured approximately 10 minutes later after his path through the woods led him to a river.
A .22-caliber pistol was recovered from the vehicle, Bogalusa Police Chief Joe Culpepper said.
Rhea was extradited from Bogalusa to Pearl River County Jail on Friday.
Rhea, charged with aiding and abetting the escape of a prison inmate, is scheduled to appear in Pearl River County court on June 26.
Depending on the circumstances of Rhea’s role in Hall’s escape, she can face anywhere from 30 days in county jail to 10 years in prison.
Hall is back in the custody of the MDOC. Hall was serving a 17-year sentence for three burglary convictions from Pearl River County. He faces an additional five-year sentence if convicted of escape.
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