3 jailers charged in Burnet escape

BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Three former correctional officers at the Burnet County jail have been charged with falsifying records after a rapist escaped from the lockup in March.

Michael Joseph Deleon, John Charles Whitehead Jr. and Diana Cochran are accused of doctoring official records to make it appear that they had completed all their tasks the night Johhny Ybarra jumped from the jail's roof and snaked his way through the razor wire to get himself free.

He was captured later at an apartment building three miles from the jail where some of his family members lived.

Burnet County officials said that if the three jailers had actually been doing their jobs, the escape probably would not have happened. All three posted $5,000 bonds.

According to accounts from the March 1 escape, ljailers last saw Ybarra during a head count just before 1 a.m. A bed check was done at 2:30 a.m., in which a jailer walks by cells to make sure inmates are sleeping.

The warden said Ybarra had placed rolled up towels under his blanket to give the appearance he was sound asleep, when if fact he was long gone. His disappearance went unnoticed until 3:30 a.m. when breakfast was served and Ybarra did not show up.

Ybarra was convicted of rape given three life sentences in February. At the time of his escape, he was awaiting transfer to a permanent state prison to serve out that sentence when he bolted from his cell.