More charges filed against Kennett, Mo., inmate who fled custody

KENNETT, Mo. — A man who briefly escaped custody in the early morning hours of Friday, only to later turn himself into authorities Friday afternoon, has been charged by Dunklin County prosecutors with escape or attempted escape from custody while under arrest for a felony offense.

The charge is a class D felony offense that could net him up to four years in the department of corrections.

On Friday afternoon Lavon Junior Whitaker, Jr., 25, of 602 Maple St., in Kennett, through a pre-arranged agreement, turned himself in at the parking lot of a local motel after he escaped custody at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center, where he had just received treatment for undisclosed reasons.

According to the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department, Whitaker assaulted a corrections officer while leaving the medical facility and fled the scene on foot at approximately 12:40 a.m., handcuffed and wearing a black and white jail issued uniform.

Whitaker, an inmate of the Dunklin County Justice Center, was being held on a $75,000 cash only bond before his escape, according to court records.

Dunklin County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jonce Chidister told the Daily Dunklin Democrat Friday morning that Whitaker was originally charged on March 27 with assault in the first degree, a class B felony; armed criminal action, an unclassified felony charge; and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, a class C felony, as a result of an incident that occurred in which Whitaker allegedly physically assaulted his girlfriend with a broken table leg, and physically shook one of his children in an aggressive manner.

Investigators immediately began to search for Whitaker following his break on Friday morning, but were unable to locate him.

At press time on Friday, Sheriff Bob Holder said investigators were actively continuing to search for leads through interviews with Whitaker's friends and family.

The DDD issued a breaking news story on its Web site, explaining the situation that included a description of Whitaker and his photo.

The DDD story also explained that in 2003 and 2005 in New Madrid County, Whitaker had been convicted of crimes similar to those he had been charged with on March 27.

Following the release of the story, at approximately 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon, an update in the case was released through the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office.

In the release, Sheriff Bob Holder announced that the Kennett Police Department and U.S. Marshal's Office assisted in the investigation.

When the prosecutor's office learned about Whitaker's assault and escape on Friday morning, before he finally turned himself over to authorities, they had this to say:

"I can assure you more charges will be filed."

And additional consequences did arise for Whitaker, who was later charged with escape from custody.

Assistant Prosecutor Jonce Chidister also requested that Whitaker's bond be changed from the previous $75,000 cash only bond amount to $500,000 cash only.

The request was approved by Dunklin County Associate Court Judge John C. Spielman.

Whitaker is again in custody at the Dunklin County Justice Center in Kennett and a preliminary hearing was set for today.

Public Defender Rebecca D. Burke is listed as his attorney.