The Clay County State’s Attorney’s office has filed a charge of escape of a felon from a penal institution against a 30-year-old Edgewood man who is one of three being held for the murder of Roger Courson of rural Edgewood in September.
No additional bond was sought for Walter West on the new Class 2 felony charge. He’s currently being held in lieu of $2.5-million bond on the murder related charges. The public defender was appointed to represent West on the new charge with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 31st.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says the attempted escape occurred on December 23rd when West was being returned by correctional officers to his cell from a visiting booth. Sheriff Andy Myers said West was pursued east of the jail to an area along the Little Wabash River approximately 100 yards from the jail in Louisville. A perimeter was quickly established and about 15 minutes later West was reportedly found hiding under a root wad. As a precaution, the Clay County Courthouse was locked down for a brief time. At the time of the incident, the name of the inmate involved was not released.
West pleaded not guilty in a formal arraignment on the murder-related charges that were held on Wednesday. No trial date was set.
Attorneys for the other co-defendants Jamie Charlton of Salem and Christopher Gallatin of Centralia were also in court Wednesday for a motion hearing where a motion was approved without objection to consume forensic evidence in testing.
