WORTH Center inmate escapes

BY BOB BLAKE

LIMA — An inmate at a local treatment center escaped from custody Wednesday while he was supposed to be performing community service at the West Ohio Food Bank.

Chief Deputy Jim Everett, of the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, said Dustin Burton, 26, of Willard, left the food bank, 1380 E. Kibby St., around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“Someone saw him standing on top of the fence in the southwest corner,” Everett said. “He jumped off the fence and took off running.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Burton was still on the run, Everett said. Burton was at the food bank performing community service as part of his treatment at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation Center.

According to court records out of Huron County, Burton pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in a counterfeit controlled substance, a fifth-degree felony, in December.

In February, a Huron County judge sentenced Burton to three years probation and up to six months in a community-based correctional facility, where he was ordered to successfully complete the program. According to court records, the judge informed Burton if he failed to complete the sentence as ordered he would be sentenced to one year in prison. Burton was ordered to the W.O.R.T.H. Center in February.

According to court records, a bench warrant has been issued in Huron County for Burton for violating the terms of his probation.

Everett said additional criminal charges in Allen County are also possible.

Anyone with information on Burton’s whereabouts is asked to call the Allen County Sheriff’s Office at 419-227-3535.

Published in The Lima News: April 15, 2011