Jailer resigns after inmate escape

BURNET, Texas (KXAN) - The man responsible for counting inmates at the Burnet County Jail Sunday night has resigned, according to Southwestern Correctional L.L.C. co-owner Billy McConnell. The unidentified employee was a correctional officer but not a licensed peace officer.

McConnell said the worker was responsible for counting inmates after scheduled recreation time. Burnet County Sheriff’s officials believe 23-year-old Nuana Antonio Fuentes-Sanchez, an inmate charged with aggravated robbery in connection to a violent home invasion last spring, escaped during that recreational period.

“Somehow, he got up on the roof then shimmied down a drain pipe,” said Burnet County Sheriff W.T. Smith. “We found blood on the pipe that led us to believe that’s how he got away.”

Smith also said there was no razor wire along the roof. McConnell said part of the upcoming security plan includes installing razor wire in that area and other places throughout the 96,000 square foot facility.

While an internal investigation is underway, a Texas Commission on Jail Standards inspector said the jail is out of compliance with proper security procedures. McConnell said the focus is specifically on the counting procedures that employee missed. The violation will be in place for 30 days, by which time McConnell said he hopes to have a better working system.

“We plan to re-work the system of counting each inmate and how often we do it,” McConnell said. “We also plan to count each inmate going outside for recreational time and then again when they re-enter. It’s really a matter of making sure the workers do their job, because the system itself works.”

Southwestern Correctional L.L.C. currently operates two jail facilities in Texas: the Burnet County Jail in Burnet and the Crystal City Correctional Center in Crystal City. McConnell said each of those locations have experienced a single jail break, including Fuentes-Sanchez’.

The privately-managed company is currently in negotiation with officials in Grayson County to operate another facility there. In addition to the Texas sites, a sister company, LaSalle Corrections, owns/operates eight more jails in Louisiana.

Southwestern and LaSalle are both headquartered in Rayville, Louisiana. McConnell said the total number of beds within the companies is about 6,900. The Burnet County Jail holds 587.

Southwestern Correctional also has a satellite office located in Dripping Springs, where McConnell has been working out of this week. On Wednesday, he met with the TCJS inspector, the sheriff, and County Judge Donna Klaeger about the jail’s upcoming plan of action.

The sheriff said it took officials “several” hours to search the facility, which just opened in the spring, twice before beginning an outside search.

When asked whether Southwestern could be held liable if Fuentes-Sanchez harmed anyone or damaged property during his escape, McConnell could not provide a definite answer.

“I’m not sure, because it’s never happened to us before,” he said. “We hope they catch him soon and hope we can do better in the future.”

On Wednesday night, Fuentes-Sanchez was still at large, thought to be in the Liberty Hill area of neighboring Williamson County. The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office said the inmate burglarized a home along County Road 204, more than 20 miles from the jail, sometime Tuesday. Investigators matched fingerprints left behind at the scene with the inmate’s. Homeowners were away at the time.

Investigators said Fuentes-Sanchez is most likely wearing jeans, a white T-shirt, and a white cap. They said stole the clothes from the home, along with a 22.caliber handgun. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information on this case should call the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office at (512) 943-1300 or the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office at (512) 756-8080. Hill County Area Crimestoppers is also offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to Fuentes-Sanchez’ capture. Call 1-866-756-TIPS.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and several other agencies were still searching early Wednesday night. They focused on a wooded area outside of Liberty Hill.

"It's possible he's moved on from this area," said Det. John Foster with the sheriff's office. "However, it's not an option to give up on the last place we know where he was at for sure."