Inmates break out of jail to burglarize business before sneaking back to jail

LEXINGTON, MS (Mississippi News Now) - A bizarre crime happened in Holmes County Tuesday when four inmates reportedly broke out of the Holmes-Humphreys County Correctional Facility, burglarizing a business, then sneaking back in to jail.

The inmates, Levontaye Ellington, Travis Baker, Maurice Robertson and Jacquiez Williams escaped their cell, jumped the fence of the jail and walked less than a mile to a Dollar General. Police say surveillance video from that night shows they broke in after hours to steal any and everything they could get their hands on.

"They stole cigarettes, cigarette lighters, phones and just items they felt they could sell in jail," said Lexington Police Chief Robert Kirklin.

After grabbing the items in the store, the chief says instead of making a run for it, the men snuck back into jail unnoticed. Williams even bonded out for another charge before authorities figured out what happened.

"You already in jail, but you want to break out and break back in?" said the Chief. "That is just something. I heard it all."

The inmates denied being involved in the break-in as they walked to their initial appearance at the Lexington Police station Tuesday.

The chief says the surveillance video tells a different story. In fact, he says the footage was key in helping identify the thieves.

"Just looking at the type of clothing they had on and just one of the bags they had put some of the merchandise in," added Chief Kirklin.

Holmes County Sheriff Willie March confirmed the escape happened and said his team is now working to better secure the facility and beef up security to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Some of the items stolen were recovered and the four inmates are all being charged with commercial burglary.

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