CHOWAN COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY) — A 48-year-old man who was captured after escaping from Chowan County Jail was sentenced on Wednesday to nine years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Russell Heath escaped from the Chowan County Jail in the evening of Oct. 19, 2022. Heath had placed a correctional officer in a headlock and used a toothbrush shank to threaten to kill him if another officer didn’t put his phone in the trash, reports said. Heath locked the two in a cell and fled after changing his clothes.
Two days later, Heath was seen on residential footage and was reported as suspicious to deputies.
Deputies saw Heath walking in the Moyock area and attempted to apprehend him. After struggling with deputies, they fell into a ditch where Heath was tased while reaching toward his waistband. After tasing Heath a second time, deputies saw a .40 caliber firearm on the ground near him.
Deputies were able to safely take Heath into custody. Heath provided a false name and date of birth to deputies.
Heath has a 2009 conviction for second-degree kidnapping, and a 2023 conviction for three counts of breaking and entering.
Heath pled guilty to two counts of second-degree kidnapping and one count of felony escape from a local jail in connection with his escape in October 2022.
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