Escapee captured near Wright

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
An escape from the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp on Monday, June 24 was short-lived for James Michael Kennah, age 42. 
Kennah was sentenced out of Campbell County in March to three to six years for buying and receiving stolen property with a value of $500 or more. He was transferred to the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp to begin his sentence on April 11, according to summary information from the facility. 
At approximately 2:53 p.m. on Monday, Kennah was placed on escape status at the minimum-security facility and a lockdown was initiated, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. 
Kennah was seen running down U.S. Highway 85 from the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp toward Newcastle, and local law enforcement, as well as residents, were alerted as soon as the escape was confirmed by camp employees. 
“Additional staff was called back to the facility, and a full facility search took place,” the release says. “The inmate was not found on-site.” 
Shortly after Kennah escaped, a gold 2000 Pontiac Grad Prix was reported stolen from the 4-Way Gas N Go and Weston County Emergency Management Coordinator Gilbert Nelson reported that law enforcement believed the two incidents were connected. 
Kennah remained on escape status for roughly an hour before he was apprehended shortly after 4 p.m. near Wright. The Wyoming Highway Patrol took him into custody. 
As per policy, an internal investigation into the escape will be conducted at the camp, located north of Newcastle on U.S. Highway 85.