Authorities nab Burnet Intermediate Sanction Facility escapees fleeing toward Lampasas

DANIEL CLIFTON and CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF

BURNET — Two 18-year-old men enjoyed a few hours of freedom July 6 after walking out a door at the Intermediate Sanction Facility in Burnet. It, however, was short-lived after authorities caught up with them in Lampasas.

Both men, Charles Edwards IV of Lampasas and James Williams of Young County, face additional felony charges in addition to those they already were behind bars for.

Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson said the two men apparently finished their breakfast around 7:30 a.m., walked out a nearby door, shucked their inmate-issued overalls —  revealing civilian clothes below — and walked off.

“They decided they wanted to leave and didn’t want to be there any more and left,” the chief said.

ISF officials became aware of the two men’s absence around 8:30 a.m. and notified local law enforcement. Nelson said once he and his department became aware of the escape, they quickly notified surrounding law enforcement agencies and passed along photos and descriptions of the two suspects.

The two men allegedly stole a red Ford pickup from a private residence several miles from the facility, located at 305 Coke St. in Burnet, behind the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office. The facility is run by the 33rd/424th Judicial District.

Once the two men had the truck, they headed north on U.S. 281 toward Lampasas, Nelson said.

“We notified Lampasas Police Department at which time they located the vehicle coming down (U.S.) 281 into their city and they conducted a traffic stop,” the chief said.

Police identified Edwards and Williams inside the vehicle and arrested them.

Both men were transported to the Burnet County Jail where they were both charged with state jail felonies of unauthorized absence from community correction facility and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Nelson said Edwards was serving time for burglary of a building while Williams was serving time for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

According to the ISF’s website, the unit is a 54-bed facility which houses inmates from 180 days to two years.

“The facility provides an intensive, structured, residential setting that teaches personal work ethic by mandating a work detail. The facility assists offenders by providing cognitive skills, educational programs, life skills programming, employment preparation and employment,” according to the website.

Nelson said often people at the facility are serving their time and trying to meet probation requirements.

While the two suspects didn’t have a history of violence, their escape did raise concerns.

“These two individuals hadn’t had a violent past but to me they were still dangerous because, one, they were young and they were on the run,” Nelson said. “They could make a mistake and get somebody or themselves hurt.”

Lampasas police arrested the two without incident.

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