July 18, 2012 — A jail inmate escaped from police custody Monday following a preliminary hearing at the Carter County Justice Center.
Mary Meyer, 28, of Flatwoods, appeared in Carter District Court Monday afternoon for a preliminary hearing.
She was arrested July 5 and charged with first degree manufacturing methamphetamine and first degree unlawful possession of methamphetamine precursors.
Meyer waived her right to a hearing and her case was bound over to the grand jury. Her court-appointed attorney, Rhese McKenzie, requested a bond reduction, which was denied.
Despite her quiet demeanor in the courtroom, Meyer tried to capitalize on an opportunity.
Meyer was able to remove her handcuffs and leave the small interview room where females are generally held for District Court through the ceiling while two other preliminary hearings were conducted.
Meyer sneaked into the jury room next door, where she removed her orange shirt and walked down the Justice Center stairs and out the front door.
Meyer met a sheriff’s deputy on her way out and was apprehended roughly 100 yards down Main Street.
She now faces additional charges of second degree escape and first degree criminal mischief.
Leeann Akers can be reached at lakers@journal-times.com or by telephone at 474-5101.
