Jail escapee found hours later in motel

A Carson City man snatched little more than six hours of freedom Friday before being picked up at a Reno motel after escaping from the jail with the help of friends, authorities said.

Inmate Shaun Lawrence, 22, was working in Carson City Jail kitchen when he took trash out to a dumpster and hopped a 4-foot wall facing Second Street about 6:25 a.m., said Sheriff Kenny Furlong. Lawrence, who was working in the kitchen as a trustee, was serving 180 days for violating his probation on a misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charge. He'd been in custody since Dec. 5.

Carson City Sheriff's Sgt. Bob White said a look at Lawrence's visitation log led them to an address on Michael Drive where they found Barbara Hubert, 24, packing clothes into a vehicle. Hubert last visited Lawrence in jail the day prior to the escape when he signed over his personal belongings to her, White said.

Hubert allegedly told police of the plot to help Lawrence escape, White said.

"The plan was Shaun would call Barbara when he was ready to escape and she'd pick him up," he said.

Lawrence made that phone call shortly before hopping the wall, White said.

Ashley Brown, 19, allegedly accompanied Hubert to meet Lawrence who was waiting in the alley behind Lowe's at Roop and Fairview.

"Then they drove out to Washoe Valley where they picked up Russell Shackleford and then on to Reno where (Shackleford) rented a room for Shaun at the Oxford Motel."

Carson City investigators met with Washoe County Sheriff's detectives and Reno police at the motel and found Lawrence hiding under a bed in Room 26 of the Lake Street motel, White said. Ashley Brown, who answered the door, allegedly was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and was booked into the Washoe County Jail. The charge of aiding and abetting is pending, White said.

Both Shackleford and Hubert were arrested on suspicion of aiding an escape. They are being held on $2,500 bail. Lawrence was additionally booked on the escape charge which carries a penalty of one year in jail.

Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.