McALESTER — A Jackie Brannon Correctional Center inmate who had escaped in late October was captured Monday in Missouri, according to correction officials.

Alvin D. Boyer, 27, was one of three JBCC inmates who escaped in October. Boyer escaped from JBCC on Oct. 26 and then five days later, on Oct. 31, Terry Buckley, 27, and Jeffery Walker, 23, escaped from the facility together.

Buckley and Walker were tracked down in Arkansas and taken back into custody the same day they escaped, according to officials.

Boyer was taken into custody Monday by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, according to JBCC Warden’s Assistant Laurie Martin. “He was arrested at approximately 2:40 p.m. at a residence in Joplin, Missouri, by Newton County Sheriff’s deputies,” Martin said. “Deputies located the offender hiding in the attic of a residence. Boyer was taken into custody without incident.”

After being apprehended in Arkansas, both Buckley and Walker were transported back to Oklahoma and are currently in custody at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville.

On the day of their escape, Buckley and Walker were allegedly observed “running from C-Unit and getting into a mid-sized silver car,” Martin said.

James Holloway, with the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, said that after the two inmates escaped from JBCC, they stopped off in Muskogee and got a motel room. “They stopped just long enough to change clothes,” Holloway said. “That’s how we got a lead on them. They changed and left their inmate clothes behind.” Holloway said that representatives from the motel called the Muskogee Police Department, which then contacted the prison and the U.S. Marshals.

The inmates, and two women who allegedly helped them escape, traveled to Palestine, Ark., where they got another motel room, according to Holloway, before they were taken into custody. “A 9mm (firearm) was found at the scene,” Holloway said.

JBCC’s warden’s assistant said, “The Arkansas state police, in coordination with multiple law enforcement agencies, apprehended both Buckley and Walker.” Both inmates were taken into custody along with the two women who allegedly helped them escape.

Pittsburg County Undersheriff Richard Bedford said that the inmates, along with the two women, were apprehended in a motel room beside a truck stop in Palestine at about 8:30 p.m. on the day they escaped. “The two women are from Wagoner,” Bedford said. “They are being interviewed by police there. I believe a firearm was found in the room and one of the two women is claiming it.” Bedford said that he expects charges to filed against the two women in Pittsburg County District Court.

All three men were charged in Pittsburg County District Court with escaping from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. If convicted, all three men are facing up to life in prison.

Boyer began serving time at JBCC on Sept. 22, 2011, according to the DOC website at www.doc.state.ok.us. In July of 2011, Boyer was sentenced to serve 2,982 days for multiple firearm and drug related felony convictions. According to the DOC website, Boyer is set to be released on Nov. 26, 2018, and has a parole hearing set in January of 2014.

Walker began serving time at JBCC on April 12, 2011, according to the DOC website. In April of 2009, Walker was sentenced to serve five years incarceration for a robbery with firearm conviction. He is set to be released from custody on April 5, 2013.

Buckley began serving time at JBCC on July 16, 2008, according to the DOC website. In June of 2008, Buckley was sentenced to serve 15 years for a felony drug-related conviction. He has multiple felony convictions, including burglary, eluding, false impersonation and multiple felony drug related charges. He is set to be released Jan. 3, 2023, and has a parole hearing scheduled in December of 2012.

Martin said that since 2009, JBCC has had a total of 13 offender escapes. All 13 were apprehended, Martin said, and eight of them were caught within 24 hours of escaping.

When asked what is being done to minimize inmate escapes from JBCC, Martin said, “As with any incident that involves offender and public safety there will be a review of the policies that are in place to determine if adjustments are needed. The budget request just approved by the board asks for a five percent pay increase for classified employees and an increase in the hiring rate for correctional officers from $11.80 to $14.00 an hour, which should help with recruitment and retention of staff.”



Contact Rachel Petersen at rpetersen@mcalesternews.com.

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