News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Jail Escapee Wayne Pletcher Sentenced to more than 12 Years in Prison; Three other Co-Defendants Sentenced

Wayne Pletcher, a Zanesville man who escaped from the Muskingum County Jail earlier this year received sentencing this week alongside three other defendants who plead guilty to their involvement thereafter: Laken Hammonds, James Pletcher, and Leona Dejesus.

A Judge has already imposed prison sentences on Eliveea Largent and Joshua L. Riggs, two co-defendants in the jail escape case, for their roles.

The Assistant Prosecuting Attorney handling each defendant’s case in the jail escape, Warren T. Edwards, confirms that the remaining co-defendants, Sara Moore, Christina Webb, Lindsey Richards, and Vanessa Cooper are awaiting sentencing.

Sentencing Details:

Wayne Pletcher:

Wayne Pletcher, who escaped from the Muskingum County Jail in February of this year, received sentencing on May 29, 2025.

The highest felony Pletcher received sentencing for was Escape, a felony of the second degree. For this charge, the Judge imposed a total sentence of eight (8) to twelve (12) years in prison. Tampering with Evidence resulted in a thirty (30) month sentence. Receiving Stolen Property led to a twelve (12) month sentence.

The Judge imposed that each sentence is to be served concurrently, meaning at the same time.

The Judge also ordered that the sentence imposed for his jail escape is to be served consecutively with the prison sentences recently imposed on Pletcher in relation to two additional cases. This resulted in a total prison sentence of 12 years and 5 months to 16 years and 5 months in prison.

James Pletcher:

James Pletcher communicated with Wayne before his escape on February 1, 2025, and facilitated communication with co-defendant Sara Moore. On the call Wayne indicated he would be leaving jail soon. Despite evidence from recorded calls, James denied any conversation with Wayne. Photos of James's call log were taken. Reports state that after comparing the recorded calls from the jail and his call log, James deleted his calls with Wayne from his phone. Investigators also found that James gave money to Wayne after his escape. This support helped Wayne stay out of sight.

James Pletcher received sentencing on June 2, 2025. For James’s Obstructing Justice charge, a second-degree felony, the Judge sentenced him to 24 months in prison. This sentence will run concurrently with the 24-month sentence for Tampering with Evidence. So, James will serve a total of two (2) years in prison.

Laken Hammonds:

Hammonds advised deputies that Sara Moore arrived at her home on February 1, 2025, and asked to use her van, which she allowed. Soon after, Pletcher changed out of his jail uniform in Hammonds’s driveway and left his uniform in Sara’s car. Pletcher and Moore then continued their escape in Hammond’s van until it was found abandoned at a cemetery in Chandlersville.

Laken Hammonds received sentencing on June 2, 2025. Hammonds plead guilty to two counts of Obstructing Justice, each a felony of the third degree. The judge sentenced the defendant to twenty-four (24) months in prison for each count. These sentences will run consecutively, leading to a total of four (4) years in prison. Hammonds was also ordered to forfeit her vehicle, a Ford Freestar, which she allowed Wayne Pletcher to take, further aiding his escape.

Leona DeJesus:

Pletcher was eventually captured on February 4, 2025, at the home of Leona DeJesus and Eliveea Largent. DeJesus, Wayne S. Pletcher’s niece, knowing he had escaped from jail, let him into her home to stay overnight, more than once. Dejesus let Pletcher use her phone to send messages. She also helped him direct Rigg when he delivered drugs to her home for Moore. Dejesus admitted she deleted Facebook Messenger from her phone. She was scared she might go to jail.

Leona DeJesus received sentencing on May 28, 2025. Prosecutors charged DeJesus with two counts of Obstructing Justice and one count of Tampering with Evidence. The Judge imposed a 30-month prison sentence on each count, to be ran concurrently (at the same time) resulting in a total prison sentence of 2 years and 6 months.

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