Colorado Inmate Escapes Jail Days Before Release, Now Facing New Charges

An inmate briefly escaped from the Pueblo County Jail Thursday night, just two days before he was scheduled to be released. The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 36-year-old Lucas Brown walked out of the facility around 9th Street while taking out the trash as part of his trustee duties in the jail kitchen.

According to Sheriff David J. Lucero, Brown was missing for approximately 35 minutes before being located and taken back into custody with help from the Pueblo Police Department. Officials say he ran west after exiting the jail during a routine clean-up shift.

A History of Escape

Brown wasn’t new to escaping custody. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to fleeing from a staff-secure treatment facility in Aurora. At that time, he broke a door and jumped a fence before being caught. That incident, which occurred under the jurisdiction of the 18th Judicial District in Arapahoe County, resulted in a 60-day sentence. He also faced charges in 2017 for allegedly assaulting a guard, though those were reduced to a third-degree assault charge.

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Questionable Assignment as a Trustee

Sheriff's officials acknowledged that Brown had been working in the jail’s kitchen since March 31 without prior issues. However, questions are now being raised about how he qualified for a trustee position with outside access, especially considering his past escape conviction.

Captain Dawn Ballas said they were not initially aware of Brown’s prior escape when assigning him the trustee role. “What we go off of is his current sentence, which was a misdemeanor for criminal mischief,” she explained.

Later, the sheriff’s office clarified that inmates with past escape attempts are eligible for trustee jobs but should not be placed in roles with outdoor responsibilities. This oversight will likely prompt a review of current policies and procedures.

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New Charges Ahead

Instead of being released tomorrow, Brown is now facing new charges related to the escape and has lost his trustee status. The incident is under investigation, and the sheriff's office says changes may be made to prevent similar situations in the future.