Pubdate: Thu, 17 Nov 2005
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051117/NEWS01/511170368/1001/NEWS
Copyright: 2005 The Des Moines Register.
Contact:  http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123
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LEGISLATORS: WHY DIDN'T PRISON ALARM WORK?

Senators Want Details On What Would Have Prevented The Escape

Some Iowa legislators Wednesday asked why an expensive high-tech 
alarm system didn't prevent the escape of two dangerous inmates 
Monday night from the Iowa State Penitentiary at Fort Madison.

The men remained at large Wednesday. Authorities said they had 
received tips from the public about the fugitives possibly being seen 
in Kansas City, Chicago, St. Louis and New York City. But no 
sightings were confirmed.

The missing inmates are Martin Shane Moon, 34, serving a life 
sentence for a murder in Clarke County; and Robert Joseph Legendre, 
27, who was serving a life sentence for attempted murder and 
kidnapping in the state of Nevada. They escaped about 6 p.m. Monday 
from the Iowa State Penitentiary at Fort Madison by using a 
hand-fashioned rope with a metal hook to climb over a limestone 
prison wall where a guard tower had been left unstaffed as a cost-cutting move.

Fred Scaletta, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Corrections, 
declined Wednesday to say whether an electronic wire barrier was 
operational at Fort Madison at the time of the escapes. The "taut 
wire" system is installed on the inside of the wall surrounding the 
institution. He said an investigation continued into the escapes.

The two convicts disappeared after working with a crew in a prison 
industries building. At some point, they climbed atop the roof of a 
building near the wall, and then succeeded in scaling the wall 
without being noticed by correctional officers.

State Sen. Jeff Angelo, a Creston Republican who served on a prison 
budget subcommittee when plans were approved for the reduction in 
tower officers three years ago, said Wednesday he isn't ready to 
restore around-the-clock staffing for all of Fort Madison's nine guard towers.

Angelo's subcommittee was assured in 2002 by then-Iowa Corrections 
Director W.L. "Kip" Kautzky that escapes could be prevented by 
spending $3.5 million to install the electronic barriers. The taut 
wire fences have a number of high-tensile strength wires, usually 
barbed, that are strung between anchor posts. Attempting to climb the 
fence, spread the wires or cut them sounds a computerized alarm.

Kautzky received approval to install the equipment. The plan provided 
savings of at least $1.5 million annually in operating costs by 
eliminating a total of 38 correctional officers' positions in guard 
towers at the three prisons.

Angelo said he expects lawmakers to ask some tough questions of state 
prison officials.

"The question for me is, 'What failed in the system at this 
particular point?' I want a full explanation of how the system worked 
or did not work, and why were these guys in a position where they 
were not spotted?" Angelo said.

State Sen. David Miller, a Fairfield Republican, has similar concerns.

"Nobody likes to admit it, but I am not sure that even if your towers 
manned at those pre-existing levels that you wouldn't have an 
occasional escape. But we need to know more of the details to know 
what would have prevented it," Miller said.

Overall, Miller said it's his impression the electronic fences have 
worked well for Iowa's prison system. He offered a vote of confidence 
for Iowa Corrections Director Gary Maynard and other state prison 
officials, saying, "Frankly, they are doing a yeoman's job with the 
budget they have been given."

State Sen. Robert Dvorsky, a Coralville Democrat, said he wouldn't 
rule out restoring some staffing in the prison towers. But he said 
Maynard should first be consulted and the taut wire fence system 
should be reviewed. Iowa also needs to study how it handles 
maximum-security inmates assigned to prisons in Fort Madison, Anamosa 
and Oakdale, he added.

Meanwhile, the manhunt for the two inmates continued.

Gene Meyer, director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, 
said it's not surprising that suspected sightings of the two inmates 
are being reported in distant states, because of national media 
attention given to the escapes.

Shortly after Monday's escape, a bicycle was stolen near the prison 
and it was found in Fort Madison near the site of a car theft, said 
Jim Saunders, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety. 
The 1995 gold Pontiac Bonneville with Iowa license plate 776 NOW has 
not been recovered, and the fugitives may be traveling in the vehicle, he said.