Dateline: April 29, 2004

Jury returns guilty verdict for escapees

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

A Donley County jury sentenced two Childress County inmates to a total of 75 years in the penitentiary last Wednesday after finding them guilty of charges related to a 2003 jail break.

The 12-member jury returned a guilty verdict against Brent Allen Davis for the first-degree felony offense of escape with a deadly weapon and Jack Treymayne Sapp for the second-degree felony offense of escape.

“We had twelve jurors who were willing to do the right thing in this case and make a statement for any inmate planning on escaping from jail,” stated District Attorney Stuart Messer. 

District Court Judge David McCoy convened the jury on Tuesday, April 20. The trial was a result of a September 20, 2003, three-person escape from the Childress County Jail. The jury determined that Davis used a homemade shank to help in the escape plan.

“This case goes to show that the law enforcement that assisted in the search of the escapees performed their job very well and had them back in their custody within a few hours,” Messer said.

After returning the guilty verdict, the jury reconvened and heard evidence on punishment.  The jury returned with a sentence of 20 years in the penitentiary for Sapp and returned a sentence of 55 years for Davis. 

“I want to express a thank you to Judge Jack Hall and the Donley County Commissioners for allowing a Childress County case to be heard in their county and courthouse,” Messer said. 

“The witness in this case, Sylvia Rodriguez, was very courageous and strong and did a wonderful job testifying in this case.  Without her determination and willingness to stand up against these two men, they may not have received the length of sentences they deserved.”

The Donley County Sheriff’s Department, Childress County Sheriff’s Department, and the transportation department from the Clements Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice should be commended for the excellent security provided to keep the courtroom a safe environment for everyone involved, the district attorney said.

Davis was represented by Clarendon attorney Jerry Courtney, and Sapp was represented by Childress attorney Earl Griffin.