TUESDAY, RANDY MORRIS WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO A TRIAL, INSTEAD PLEADING GUILTY TO THE AUGUST ESCAPE. THEY HAVE CAUGHT HIM. WE’RE SHOWING LIVE VIDEO RIGHT NOW OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS JUST BEEN ARRESTED BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE. SKY TEAM 11 CAPTURED EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF THE CROSS COUNTY MANHUNT AFTER MORRIS GOT AWAY FROM A PRISON VAN, STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT ROUTE 32. HE WAS BEING TRANSPORTED FOR A ROUTINE DENTAL PROCEDURE FROM CARROLL COUNTY TO HOWARD COUNTY. WHILE IN ROUTE, HE WAS NOT BUCKLED IN BECAUSE HE WAS ALMOST SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED. TUESDAY’S GUILTY PLEA TO FIRST DEGREE ESCAPE CARRIES A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF TEN YEARS. THE STATE IS ASKING FOR A SEVEN YEAR SENTENCE. HIS RECORD GOES BACK 20 YEARS AND IT INCLUDES CHARGES RANGING FROM THEFT TO DESTRUCTION AND ASSAULT AND ANOTHER FIRST DEGREE ESCAPE. IN 2011, A CHARGE THE HOWARD COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY SAYS IS PRETTY RARE. SUBJECTS IN CUSTODY. ALL UNITS CAN BREAK DOWN THE PERIMETER. RICHARD GIBSON SAYS THE PRACTICE IS TO NOT SECURE OR CUFF PEOPLE ON PRERELEASE STATUS. HOWEVER, EVEN WITH JUST ONE MORE YEAR TO GO OF A TEN YEAR SENTENCE, MORRIS HAD OTHER PLANS BECAUSE. HE WAS ALMOST OUT, HE WAS CONSIDERED A LOW SECURITY THREAT AND SO THEY DIDN’T CUFF HIM. AND BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T CUFF HIM, MOST PEOPLE, KNOWING THEY’VE ONLY GOT A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO SERVE, DON’T RISK RE-OFFENDING. NOW, TODAY WAS THE PLEA HEARING HIS SENTENCING IS NOW SET FOR THE MORNING OF MAY 24TH. WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS
Randy Morris pleads guilty to escape after cross-county manhunt in August
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Updated: 6:06 PM EDT Mar 19, 2024
The man who escaped custody and led police on a daylong manhunt in August pleaded guilty Tuesday.A cross-county manhunt began after Randy Morris escaped from a prison van stopped in traffic on Maryland Route 32. He was being taken to a routine dental appointment from the state prison in Jessup."He was being transported for a routine dental procedure from Carroll County to Howard County. While en route, he was not buckled in because he was almost scheduled to be released," Howard County State's Attorney Richard Gibson told 11 News.Gibson said the practice is not to secure or put people in handcuffs who are on pre-release status."Because he was almost out, he was considered a low-security threat, and so they didn't cuff him. And, because they didn't cuff him, most people, knowing they only have a short period of time to serve, don't risk reoffending," Gibson told 11 News.SkyTeam 11, Baltimore's only news helicopter, caught Morris' arrest on exclusive video after an 11 News crew spotted him and called 911. Cellphone video showed Morris running across railroad tracks into brush and down a street.Morris was serving a 10-year sentence for burglary and was scheduled to be released in just one year."Escape is rare. We don't see a lot of escape charges. Most times, people who are incarcerated stay incarcerated," Gibson told 11 News. "Obviously, the message should be we should not encourage people. Once you're incarcerated, you did something wrong, you should take accountability for your actions, use that time to reform yourself, and hopefully, rejoin us successfully."On Tuesday, the 39-year-old waived his right to a trial and entered a guilty plea to first-degree escape, which carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. The state is asking for a seven-year sentence. Morris can argue for less at his sentencing hearing on May 24.According to lengthy court records obtained by 11 News, this was not Morris' first time trying to escape custody. His criminal record dates back 20 years, with charges ranging from theft to destruction and assault. There was another first-degree escape in 2011."Due to his record — he has 15 priors — and due to the fact we want to make sure the message is clear, if you escape from custody, there will be a significant consequence, our prosecutor, Assistant State's Attorney Tricia Cecil, and I are asking for a seven-year sentence be imposed," Gibson told 11 News.
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — The man who escaped custody and led police on a daylong manhunt in August pleaded guilty Tuesday.
A cross-county manhunt began after Randy Morris escaped from a prison van stopped in traffic on Maryland Route 32. He was being taken to a routine dental appointment from the state prison in Jessup.
"He was being transported for a routine dental procedure from Carroll County to Howard County. While en route, he was not buckled in because he was almost scheduled to be released," Howard County State's Attorney Richard Gibson told 11 News.
Gibson said the practice is not to secure or put people in handcuffs who are on pre-release status.
"Because he was almost out, he was considered a low-security threat, and so they didn't cuff him. And, because they didn't cuff him, most people, knowing they only have a short period of time to serve, don't risk reoffending," Gibson told 11 News.
SkyTeam 11, Baltimore's only news helicopter, caught Morris' arrest on exclusive video after an 11 News crew spotted him and called 911. Cellphone video showed Morris running across railroad tracks into brush and down a street.
Morris was serving a 10-year sentence for burglary and was scheduled to be released in just one year.
"Escape is rare. We don't see a lot of escape charges. Most times, people who are incarcerated stay incarcerated," Gibson told 11 News. "Obviously, the message should be we should not encourage people. Once you're incarcerated, you did something wrong, you should take accountability for your actions, use that time to reform yourself, and hopefully, rejoin us successfully."
On Tuesday, the 39-year-old waived his right to a trial and entered a guilty plea to first-degree escape, which carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. The state is asking for a seven-year sentence. Morris can argue for less at his sentencing hearing on May 24.
According to lengthy court records obtained by 11 News, this was not Morris' first time trying to escape custody. His criminal record dates back 20 years, with charges ranging from theft to destruction and assault. There was another first-degree escape in 2011.
"Due to his record — he has 15 priors — and due to the fact we want to make sure the message is clear, if you escape from custody, there will be a significant consequence, our prosecutor, Assistant State's Attorney Tricia Cecil, and I are asking for a seven-year sentence be imposed," Gibson told 11 News.
