Pubdate: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 Source: Des Moines Register (IA) http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051118/NEWS01/51118005/1001/NEWS Copyright: 2005 The Des Moines Register. Contact: http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) VILSACK SUSPENDS EMPLOYEE IN CONNECTION WITH PRISON BREAK Gov. Tom Vilsack said Friday that he had suspended at least one state employee in connection with the escape of two inmates at the Iowa State Penitentiary. Both inmates were back in custody Friday after the capture of Robert Joseph Legendre, 27, in Steele, Mo. The other inmate, Martin Moon, 34, was arrested Thursday, near Chester, Ill. Vilsack said more suspensions were expected as state officials continue to investigate how the inmates were able to scale a 30-foot wall unnoticed by prison officials. "I can also tell you we have reached some conclusions and the result has been personnel accountability, the suspension of at least one employee and I would expect and anticipate more," Vilsack said. The Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison will remain in lockdown until prison officials can guarantee that it is secure and problems have been corrected, he said. Vilsack declined to identify the suspended employee, saying it's a personnel matter. "I told the people of this state we are going to hold the people responsible for this escape accountable," Vilsack said. "I can tell you that process has already begun." He said there was a failure at the Fort Madison prison to account for inmates in prison industries, where Moon and Legendre had been working. "That was not done and should have been done," Vilsack said. In Mount Pleasant earlier today for an economic development summit, Vilsack praised law enforcement for its work apprehending the escaped convicts. "Obviously I appreciate the fact that law enforcement was diligent and able to put these two characters back behind bars where they belong," he said. State Senator Gene Fraise, D-Fort Madison, was at the summit with Vilsack and said there will be legislative hearings to investigate the escape and security at the prison. "There definitely will be discussions about that. We need those towers manned," Fraise said.