Broward County, Florida (WQOW) - The escaped inmates from the Black River Falls Correctional Center, James Newman and James Misleveck made an appearance in Florida court Thursday.
Investigators say 29-year-old James Newman and 18-year-old James Misleveck walked away from the Black River Falls Correctional Facility and went on a cross country crime spree, stealing cars, holding a woman at gunpoint, and severely beating an elderly convenience store clerk. They were arrested in Florida July 25th.
The escapees waived extradition in Broward County Florida Court Thursday morning and will have to answer to charges in Florida. Once the men leave Florida, they will be delivered to the U.S. attorney in Madison to face the federal charge of unlawfully possessing a shotgun as convicted felons. Once the federal courts process the two men, Jackson county will take them into their court system.
In Jackson County the men face the following seven charges: Escape, Kidnapping, Operation of a motor vehicle without owner's consent, theft of a firearm, armed carjacking, second degree reckless endangerment of safety, and armed robbery. These charges are made more serious because both men will be charged as repeat offenders.
One positive part of this story is that the tax payers of Jackson county will save thousands of dollars because the federal courts are paying the bill for transportation of these men from Florida to Wisconsin.
