Prison escapee appears in court

Posted 8/19/10

Province was arrested by U.S. marshals early Monday morning in Meeteetse, assisted by the Park County Sheriff's Department.

Province, who had been serving a sentence of life in prison for murder and robbery, escaped from the Arizona State Prison …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Prison escapee appears in court

Posted

{gallery}08_12_10/azconvict{/gallery}Park County Sheriff's Department officers escort Arizona prison escapee Tracy Province out of the Park County circuit courtroom, following his Tuesday morning extradition hearing. Tribune photo by CJ Baker Captured convict doesn't contest extradition A prison escapee captured in Meeteetse Monday opted not to contest his extradition back to Arizona at a hearing in Park County's Circuit Court in Cody Tuesday morning.During a brief hearing, Tracy Allen Province, 42, told Circuit Court Judge Bruce Waters he would waive his right to contest extradition.

Province was arrested by U.S. marshals early Monday morning in Meeteetse, assisted by the Park County Sheriff's Department.

Province, who had been serving a sentence of life in prison for murder and robbery, escaped from the Arizona State Prison in Kingman, Ariz., on July 30, along with Daniel Renwick, 36, and John Charles McCluskey, 45.

Renwick was caught on Aug. 1 in Colorado after a car chase and gunfire; as of press time, McCluskey and a suspected accomplice — his cousin and fiancee Cassyln Welch, 43 — remained at large. They are considered armed and extremely dangerous.

U.S. marshals said Wednesday they believed the couple might be in Arkansas, shifting focus from Montana and Wyoming.

The escaped convicts — chiefly McCluskey — have been tied to a double-homicide in New Mexico last week, officials said.

Province was nabbed by marshals near the Oasis Motel, and not far from the Meeteetse Community Church, where he had attended Sunday services.

A church member later recognized Province from a photo on television and called the Park County Sheriff's department; a deputy verified the tip as legitimate and U.S. marshals were summoned, Lt. Dave Patterson said Monday.

After coming up with a plan Sunday night, Province was spotted by marshals Monday morning around 6:20 a.m. and arrested without incident. He was reportedly carrying a 9mm handgun and a hitchhiking sign saying, “Casper.”

Province had gone undetected at The Cowboy Bar Saturday night, even though his photo was broadcast on the bar's television during the news.

In an interview with the Associated Press, owner Jim Blake recalled Province staring straight at the TV screen but Blake said no one “put it together” because the photo wasn't a good likeness.

Butch Cassidy was arrested at the bar before being sent to prison in 1894, and Blake said Province was interested in hearing outlaw stories. He also talked about getting work as a ranch hand.

“To tell you the truth, I realize he's a terrible person, but he actually was a pretty friendly fellow,” Blake said. “He actually was a pretty nice guy.”

Patterson said sheriff's deputies had been pursuing multiple tips of possible convict sightings in Park County.

“There has been lots of call-in tips,” Patterson said, declining to speculate or elaborate on which other reports might have been legitimate.

Tuesday's extradition hearing lasted less than five minutes.

“It was the most routine extradition I've ever had,” said Deputy Park County Attorney Sam Krone of his part in the proceeding.

However, the nature of the case, media attention, and security arrangements were extremely different than the usual fare in Park County; a swarm of officers from the Park County Sheriff's office accompanied Province to and from the hearing, some armed with rifles.

A lieutenant was stationed out in the hall during the proceedings.

“I've never felt this safe,” quipped one court official as she returned to her office.

Two male inmates from Powell also were in the circuit courtroom before Judge Waters, there to change their pleas on misdemeanor charges. They were transported to and from the jail in a separate vehicle.

As he left the courtroom, Province said nothing when a reporter asked what had happened to the couple in New Mexico. After arriving outside, Province covered his face with court papers, apparently to avoid the cameras present.

Employees and visitors at the courthouse gathered at the windows and entryways of the courthouse to watch Province be transported back to the Park County jail to await extradition.

He cannot post bond. Generally, inmates can ask for a hearing in front of a judge if they haven't been extradited within 20 days, Krone said.

Judge Waters said he thought, given the attention this case has received, Province's transfer will happen soon.

“I guess it will,” Province said with a little laugh.

Comments