GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Brown County Jail inmate has been charged after allegedly helping another inmate escape earlier this week.
Justice James Thibodeaux, 22, has been charged with conspiracy to commit harboring or aiding a felon due to his alleged involved in Justin Dietrich’s escape from jail.
Dietrich was reportedly working in the secure side of the jail kitchen when Thibodeaux, who works on the non-secure side, helped him escape by hiding him in a kitchen cart which was then moved into a non-secure area.
A contract worker, who is not an inmate, then opened the non-secure door and pulled the meal cart where Dietrich was hidden into the non-secure side.
When the contractor walked away, Thibodeuax pushed the cart with Dietrich in it and opened the cart door. Thibodeaux then directed Dietrich to the kitchen exit, which leads into the loading dock.
After speaking, the two walked away — Dietrich exiting through the loading dock and then running through a back parking lot and into the wood line.
When first interviewed, Thibodeaux denied knowing Dietrich but eventually admitted to knowing him before jail and discussing the escape with him previously.
According to the criminal complaint, Thibodeuax said Dietrich was having issues with his girlfriend and wanted to get out, but he never expected Dietrich to follow through.
After his arrest on Tuesday, Dietrich said he received a letter from his girlfriend a few days before his escape, which upset him.
Dietrich said no one helped him and was surprised when police told him Thibodeaux admitted to helping him. He says he had no plan.
Dietrich is being held on a $20,000 cash bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 19.
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