ROCKINGHAM — Two inmates who escaped from Morrison Correctional Institution on Monday are facing additional charges for an alleged break-in while on the run.
After receiving a call from the prison about the escape, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation, according to a press release issued Monday night.
While the search was going on, investigators say a resident on Fox Road came home to find it had been broken into. Judging by items left at the scene, investigators were able to determine that 18-year-old Josh Ashworth and 22-year-old Brandon McDorman were responsible.
The two are accused of stealing a .22-caliber rifle, U.S. currency and a few food items.
While still at the scene, investigators say someone called 911 to report seeing Ashworth and McDorman near the intersection of N.C. 177 and Earle Franklin Drive.
Deputies were joined by the Hamlet Police Department, agents with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the N.C. Department of Corrections and N.C. State Highway Patrol in a search of the area.
The SBI and Highway Patrol were searching by air while K-9s were trying to sniff out the escapees on the ground where neighbors reported spotting them, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators say a resident noticed the scuttle hole leading home was open. Deputies and K-9 officers searched around and found the two hiding under the house.
They were arrested without incident and each charged two counts of felony breaking and entering and one count each of larceny after breaking and entering, larceny of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and injury to real property. They were also served with felony escape warrant and released back into the custody of the DOC pending court hearings.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
