Casper Woman Admits Aiding Escape of CRC Inmates
A former resident manager at the Casper Re-Entry Center who was accused of having a sexual relationship with an inmate and helping two inmates escape entered guilty pleas Thursday afternoon in Natrona County District Court.
Shayne Bonita Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting an escape. Combined, the charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
In exchange for the guilty pleas, Assistant District Attorney Kevin Taheri told District Judge Daniel Forgey that he will recommend a suspended prison sentence of three to five years and three years of supervised probation for Jones.
In addition, two charges of sexual assault which had initially been filed against Jones would be dismissed per the plea agreement.
On Oct. 9, 2017, the Wyoming Department of Corrections began investigating an alleged sexual relationship between Jones and another inmate. On Oct. 11 and 12, Jones and the inmate in question were interviewed as part of the investigation and denied the allegation.
The next day, Jones went missing and the inmate, along with another inmate, left CRC and did not return. Jones used her personal vehicle to drive the men to California via Las Vegas, Nevada.
The inmates were later apprehended in California and brought back to Wyoming.
At a request from defense attorney Dylan Rosalez, Forgey reduced Jones's bond from $10,000 to $1,000 cash or surety. She will be sentenced at a later date following the completion of a presentence investigation.