The Woodward News

Local News

May 8, 2009

Potential escape attempt thwarted

Two inmates are being held in the Woodward County Jail after they allegedly attempted to escape from the facility.

Joshua McGee, 22, Mooreland, and Michael Gonser Jr., 23, Woodward, were both charged with injury to property less than $2,500, attempting to escape and conspiring to commit a crime.

According to Woodward County Court records, McGee was already being held on $7,500 bond on charges of allegedly possessing methamphetamine and Gonser was already being held on $100,000 bond on charges of alleged assault and battery with a deadly weapon and allegedly destroying evidence.

In court records signed by Undersheriff Kevin Mitchell, the alleged planned escape by Gonser and McGee was intercepted after another inmate told Jail Administrator Saunnie Thompson that the two were trying to get away.

Thompson said she was releasing the prisoner to go to a rehabilitation center.

In the affidavit regarding the escape, Thompson said the prisoner going to rehab told her a metal plate had been removed from above the side of the jail shower and a hole had been kicked in the wall, which led to a crawl space above the ceiling.

The metal plate had been welded in place to cover up this access point, and the inmates had somehow allegedly managed to break the weld, Thompson said.

The alleged escape attempt was intercepted about 5 p.m. April 27.

Thompson also said in the affidavit that McGee allegedly threatened to harm the rehab prisoner’s family if he talked about the alleged escape plans.

“Neither inmate would talk” about the alleged escape attempt after they were intercepted, Thompson said in the affidavit.

On April 28, the Woodward County Sheriff’s Department hired Pete’s Welding Service to repair the damage. The repair cost $200.

Both Gonser and McGee were placed in another cell.

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