Jacobia Crisp appeared in court to face charges related to allegedly helping an escaped convict evade police, raising many questions about her motivations and actions.
At a Glance
- Jacobia Crisp is charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive and harboring an escapee.
- She allegedly assisted Ramone Alston in evading police after he escaped from a transport van.
- Alston was captured after a three-day manhunt involving multiple agencies.
- Crisp posted a $30,000 bond and faces court again on September 13.
Charges Against Jacobia Crisp
Crisp appeared in a North Carolina court to answer charges of aiding and abetting a fugitive and harboring an escapee. These charges stem from her alleged role in helping Ramone Alston evade law enforcement. The 32-year-old is facing more than five years in prison if convicted of these felony charges according to local reports.
Alston reportedly broke free from his leg restraints and escaped a transport van while attending a medical appointment at UNC Gastrointestinal Medicine. Authorities captured Alston at a Kannapolis hotel after a widespread search involving agencies such as the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service. He was then transferred to a maximum control unit in Granville County.
Details of the Escape
Ramone Alston, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence for the 2015 killing of 1-year-old Maleah Williams, allegedly managed to slip away from a medical transport van. This incident occurred in Hillsborough, North Carolina, prompting a manhunt that lasted three days. Federal agencies, along with local police, were involved in tracking him down.
The authorities also arrested Jacobia Crisp in Alamance County. Reports indicate that Crisp communicated mainly via phone with Alston for several months before the escape. She posted a $30,000 bond and now awaits her next court appearance on September 13.
Jacobia Crisp was charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive and harboring an escapee. https://t.co/uUie6pyOPA
— WFMY News 2 (@WFMY) August 20, 2024
Next Steps and Legal Repercussions
The capture of Alston happened at the Microtel Inn and Comfort Inn and Suites in Kannapolis, with the criminal registered under Crisp’s name. Alston will face charges including felony escape from state prison and assault on a government official. Meanwhile, Crisp, who no longer works at Walgreens following her arrest, could serve more than five years behind bars if convicted.
The law enforcement review of the escape is ongoing and may lead to changes in prisoner transport policies. Authorities are still investigating how Alston managed to free himself and whether Crisp had any inside help in facilitating the escape.
Sources
- A woman accused of aiding an escaped prisoner appears in a North Carolina court
- Jacobia Crisp accused of helping escaped killer by driving him around, possibly booking hotel rooms
