A Johnson County woman who allegedly used a plastic knife to attempt to escape from custody could face up to two decades in jail as a result of that attempt.
Lovelle McCarty, also know as Shelly Ferguson, of Sitka, was in the custody of the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center while being treated at Pikeville Medical Center last week. Pike Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Bartley said McCarty attempted to escape from custody while she was a patient at the hospital, and allegedly attempted to take the corrections officer guarding her hostage with a plastic knife and a roll of medical tape.
The alleged escape attempt was foiled after the officer fought back and other intervened. Authorities are now trying to figure out what to do with McCarty.
She was being held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on charges out of Johnson County, and also on a felony warrant out of Ohio. In the Pike County indictment, she is facing charges of kidnapping, third-degree assault and criminal attempt to commit escape in the second degree. The kidnapping charge is a class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Bartley said the case could serve as a warning to law enforcement and corrections offices to never let their guards down around inmates.
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