Prisoner sentenced for 1996 escape

A Clark County Detention Center prisoner who embarrassed jailers by escaping while being led to court and was at large for 2 1/2 hours has been sentenced to at least a year in prison.

Kelly Jory, 31, who has a history of attempted escapes, had picked his handcuffs before slipping out of line while he and other prisoners rounded a corner in a courthouse hallway on Nov. 21, 1996.

Jory hasn't had that opportunity since because jailers shroud his hands in security mittens whenever he has been transported to the Clark County Courthouse for hearings on the five felony cases pending against him.

In court Wednesday, District Judge Joseph Bonaventure sentenced Jory to 12 to 30 months in prison on his guilty plea to the escape charge. Deputy District Attorney David Wall said Jory also faces charges in another escape attempt and on allegations of robbery, two counts of auto theft and possession of stolen property.

Although Jory was missing for hours in 1996, he eventually was found hiding in a utility closet off a well-traveled employee hallway beside District Judge Jeff Sobel's courtroom. He was just 30 feet from an emergency exit and near offices housing court reporters, clerks and judicial secretaries.

Jory, also known as James David Morin, was captured at gunpoint and without incident by a corrections officer with the help of District Court Bailiff Al Fitzgerald.

Besides his handcuffs, the locks on one leg shackle and Jory's belly chain had been opened. A pick made from an eyeglass ear piece was found near him on the floor.

Although jail officials said Jory has a history of slipping out of handcuffs, he was placed toward the tail end of the chain of 17 prisoners being walked to Sobel's courtroom before the 9 a.m. session.

He didn't stand up in court when his name was called and when the prisoners returned to jail after court, the numbers didn't add up. It was only then that jailers began looking for Jory, although courthouse bailiffs were not informed of the escape.

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