Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 27, 2025
One of Six Charged for Helping Man Escape Jail Pleads Guilty
Zanesville, OH – March 26, 2025 – Eliveea E. Largent, one of six people charged for helping Wayne Pletcher escape from the Muskingum County Jail, pled guilty today to three serious charges. These charges are connected to her role in the escape on February 1, 2025.
On that day, Pletcher managed to escape the Muskingum County Jail with the help of several people outside the jail, including Largent. Detectives quickly found evidence linking Largent to the escape, showing that she helped Pletcher avoid getting caught.
What Happened During the Investigation
On February 4, 2025, detectives found Largent and Leona Rivera-Dejesus, Pletcher’s cousin, standing outside Largent’s home on Moxahala Avenue. The two women admitted that Pletcher had been inside the house and that they knew about the escape. The investigation also showed that Pletcher had visited the house the night he escaped and came back on February 2nd, where he stayed until he was caught.
When detectives looked at Largent’s and Rivera-Dejesus’s phones, they found many messages between them and Pletcher. Largent also admitted to deleting phone calls with Pletcher to hide her involvement. She also allowed Pletcher to use her phone to set up a drug deal on February 3rd.
The Charges and Possible Penalties
Largent was charged with three felonies:
1. Obstructing Justice – for hiding Pletcher in her home on February 1, 2025.
2. Obstructing Justice – for hiding Pletcher in her home again on February 2, 2025.
3. Tampering with Evidence – for deleting phone calls related to Pletcher’s escape.
Largent pleaded guilty to all three charges brought by the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office and now faces up to 9 years in prison.
Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch stated “Anyone helping criminals escape or helping criminals avoid being caught by law enforcement are going to face serious consequences.”
What’s Next
Largent will be sentenced at a later date. The other defendants that have been charged are still awaiting trial. The Prosecutor’s Office will continue to provide updates on the remaining cases.
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