A Gainesville inmate released from prison to participate in a work-release program decided, instead, to take some time away from the big house and not return until early Tuesday.
Gainesville Police charged David Wesley Harteis, 25, of 13402 NE 34th Way, with escaping from authorities, according to a GPD arrest report. He returned to the Santa Fe Work Release Center on Tuesday morning.
Harteis was scheduled to work for an hour Monday in the center’s work-release program and to return by 5 p.m, said Ann Howard, communications director for the Florida Department of Corrections.
When Harteis did not return, an escape notice and warrant was issued to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the GPD.
At about 12:50 a.m. Tuesday, Harteis returned to the center, where GPD arrested him. He told police he was at a woman’s house drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, according to the report.
Harteis is serving a year-and-a-half prison term for attempted robbery, according to jail records from the Florida Department of Corrections’ website.
Harteis returned to prison, where he will continue to serve his sentence. He is expected to be released in May 2013, according to the department of corrections’ website.
Contact Chris Alcantara at calcantara@alligator.org.
