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ELIZABETH, N.J.
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On
the day their trial was to begin, two men who escaped from the Union
County Jail in December 2007 pled guilty to an indictment charging them
with the escape, announced Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow.
Otis Blunt, 34, and Jose Espinosa, 21, each pled guilty to a charge of
3rd degree escape.
“The case highlighted problems in operation of the jail,”
said Romankow. “Subsequently, changes
were made and new security measures, including barbed wire and new
cameras were added. I am hopeful that these new additions will keep the
prisoners behind bars until their release date.”
Blunt, of Toms River, and Espinosa of Elizabeth, escaped from the Union
County Jail between December 14-15, 2007.
Both escapees were recaptured within hours of each other on January 8th
and 9th after an intensive manhunt that
involved the Union County Police, Union County Prosecutor’s Office,
Union County Sheriff’s Department and U. S. Marshals.
Espinosa was located in a basement apartment in Elizabeth, while Blunt
was tracked to a $10-a-night motel in Mexico, said Romankow.
Blunt was in jail at the time of the escape awaiting trial for a robbery
in Hillside. Espinosa, who pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter in
January 2007, was awaiting sentencing on those charges when he escaped.
Assistant Prosecutor Ann Rubin, who handled the case, said both men could
receive five years in prison at the time of their sentencing.
Otis Blunt is being held without bail at the state prison in Trenton.
Espinosa is currently serving a 17-year sentence his aggravated
manslaughter charge.
Sentencing for both men is scheduled for June 26 before Union County
Superior Court Judge Joseph P. Donohue.
ENDIT-
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