Newton Correctional escapee gets five more years in prison

A Newton Correctional Release Facility escapee was ordered five more years in prison earlier this month.

Terry Lee Fink II, 46, was sentenced to additional years in prison on Jan. 9, according to court documents. The sentencing, issued by Judge Steven Holwerda, included Fink’s charges of escape from custody, a felony, in addition to his previous charges of burglary and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Fink’s fines were also suspended as part of the sentencing.

Fink walked away from Newton Correctional Release Center without permission in October, and was found and arrested by law enforcement officials the next day in Warren County, according to an Iowa Department of Corrections press release.

Fink was arrested within 24 hours of his escape from the minimum security facility by officers from the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and Indianola Police Department. He was then transported to Newton Correctional Facility.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Fink broke into Dave’s Auto World, 2051 S. 24th Ave. W. and stole a white 2008 GMC truck at around 7:45 a.m. that day.

Fink II was not present during a routine headcount at 9:10 p.m. Oct. 10 in Newton Correctional, resulting in staff to review security footage which saw the inmate breaching an emergency vehicle gate and walking away from the facility roughly two hours prior to the roll call.

Fink was placed in Newton Correctional Release Center Oct. 4 and had been convicted of two aggravated misdemeanors in Franklin County, as well as operating while under the influencing of alcohol or a drug and eluding.

Assisting with the case was Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Des Moines Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the 5th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services Fugitive Apprehension Team.

Fink is still being housed at Newton Correctional Facility.

“The department refers criminal acts, such as escape, to the county attorney for prosecution,” the Iowa Department of Corrections said in a statement.

According to Iowa Code 719.4 (escape or absence of custody), if a person arrested, charged or convicted of a misdemeanor escapes or attempts to escape from a detention facility, community-based correctional facility or related institution, he or she would commit a serious misdemeanor.

— NDN reporter Chris Braunschwieg contributed to the report.

Contact Orrin Shawl at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or oshawl@newtondailynews.com