A year after inmates escaped Bibb County jail, accomplice gets prison time for her role.
A woman who was responsible for helping four Bibb County Jail inmates escape was ordered by a federal judge to serve two years and five months in prison on Wednesday.
The sentencing was held exactly one year after the four inmates — Johnifer Barnwell, Chavis Stokes, Marc Kerry Anderson and Joey Fournier — escaped, according to court records.
In May, Janecia Green pleaded guilty to helping those four escape the Bibb County Jail on Oct. 16, 2023. Even though the guidelines for her sentencing suggested she serve between 4 to 10 months in prison, Judge C. Ashley Royal believed that was “too low” and sentenced her to more time.
How suspect aided a jailbreak in Macon
Green bought a 4-pound mallet and chisel from a home improvement store and gave them to an associate of Barnwell’s, who smuggled the items into the jail, according to Green’s plea agreement. The mallet and chisel were used to make an opening in the wall, and the four inmates escaped through it.
Royal believed that the “seriousness of the crime is not reflected in the guideline.” He said the jail escape “wouldn’t have happened without her” and that Green was careful not to be tracked.
Green had been in custody for 11 months leading up to Wednesday’s sentencing, according to her attorney, Keith Eric Fitzgerald. Since she had served more than the recommended sentencing, Fitzgerald attempted to convince Royal to release her on Wednesday. He argued she was impressionable and young and was influenced by Barnwell. Her family took up most of the courtroom’s gallery to support her and “would talk about what a good person she is.”
Prosecutors argued Green had an allegiance with Barnwell and often refused to comply with them. They also said that proceeding efforts to capture the four inmates were a “severe waste of time and resources.”
Prosecutors said aw enforcement officers were ordered to drop everything to find the inmates and the people responsible for the escape. Prosecutors were also ordered to give attention to the case, “to correct what this woman did,” they said Wednesday.
Before Royal gave his sentence, Green apologized to her family, the community and law enforcement for the role she played in the escape.
Green will spend three years on supervised release after she’s released from prison.
Escapees were detained again, accomplices face charges
Stokes, Fournier and Anderson were charged with escaping. Their escape cases were sent to Bibb County Superior Court while Barnwell’s case is being handled in federal court. Stokes and Anderson pleaded guilty earlier this year and both were sentenced to serve five years in prison, court records show. It is unclear if Fournier’s case will go to trial or if he will plead guilty.
Barnwell pleaded guilty on July 18, but it is unclear when his sentencing will be.
Mykia Williams, Jakaylen Williams, Tymesha Timley and Jacorshia Smith also face charges in Bibb County Superior Court for their role in the escape and were indicted shortly after the escapees’ indictments. While all of them are facing one count of aiding in escape, Jakaylen Williams faces one count of theft for allegedly stealing a 2022 Dodge Challenger that was used in the escape. Timley faces one count of hindering the apprehension of Marc Anderson. Their cases are still pending.
This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 2:40 PM.
