JACKSON COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) – A Wisconsin prison escapee who committed a crime spree in Florida is having at least 20 more years added to his current prison sentence.
21-year-old James Misleveck was sentenced in Jackson County Wednesday to 35 years on reduced state charges of kidnapping, theft, and escape. The term will run at the same time as a 15-year federal sentence imposed last April.
Misleveck and 31-year-old James Newman were about to be released from a state prison bootcamp at Black River Falls in 2012 when they escaped.
Authorities said they stole four vehicles, kidnapped a casino worker, and led officers on a manhunt in Jackson and Monroe counties. The two escapees went to Florida, where officials said they robbed a convenience store, beat a 71-year-old clerk, and led officers on one final chase.
Newman has been given a 10-year federal sentence for possessing a shotgun as a convicted felon. He still faces 7 felony charges in Wisconsin, including kidnapping and armed robbery.
No new court dates are scheduled in that case — which also resulted in the arrest of Misleveck’s father James at his home near Elroy.
Officers said they were looking for the younger Misleveck when they saw that his dad was growing marijuana. He ended up getting a deferred prosecution agreement for two misdemeanor drug convictions.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)