GREENFIELD — An Indianapolis man who eluded capture for 16 days after he escaped from the Hancock County Jail in January has been sentenced in the case that led to his original arrest.
Tyrell Deshawn White, 23, was given an eight-year term with four years suspended. He’ll also get 316 days of credit, and the term will run consecutively to a sentence for a prior Level 3 felony charge against White for conspiracy to commit armed robbery in Marion County in 2018.
A plea agreement called for White to plead guilty to a Level 4 felony county of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and a Level 6 felony count of auto theft; two misdemeanor charges were dismissed. The most serious charge is punishable by up to 12 years in prison.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Aimee Herring argued for the full eight years to be spent in the Indiana Department of Correction, noting less restrictive treatment has not deterred White from committing crimes.
Herring emphasizing aggravating factors: White was on probation for an armed robbery at the time of the offenses in Hancock County; his recent criminal history; and a clear disdain for the law.
White ran away Jan. 10 from an outdoor work detail at the Hancock County Jail and remained at large until his capture on the east side of Indianapolis on Jan. 26.
Herring further argued that based upon White’s past conduct, it’s apparent he continues to minimize his criminal behavior while making conscious decisions to engage in unlawful conduct.
Herring urged Judge Scott Sirk of Hancock County Circuit Court to impose an entirely executed sentence, saying officials believe White will otherwise continue to violate the law.
White’s attorney, Jeffrey D. McClarnon of Greenfield, told the court White was an intelligent and articulate young man who made several mistakes but cares deeply for his children.
Ultimately, Sirk imposed the eight-year sentence, with four years to be spent in prison and four years suspended to probation.
White is still facing a Level 5 felony count of escape with a pretrial conference set for June 16 in Hancock County Superior Court 1 in front of Judge D.J. Davis.
