Four Inmates Escape Franklin County Correctional Facility

Authorities are searching for four inmates who escaped from a Franklin County minimum-security facility Thursday evening, according to police documents.

The escape occurred at the Franklin County Community Based Correctional Facility. A detective with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said the inmates, all male, broke out by smashing a window. Arrest warrants are currently being processed.

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The escapees have been identified as Nikko Burton, Jeremy Bowen, Mark Long, and Michael Norton. Their names are expected to be formally released Friday morning, authorities said.

A spokesperson for the correctional facility highlighted that while the individuals were housed at the center, they are not county inmates. However, once apprehended, they will be booked into the Franklin County Jail. The facility and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation into the escape, including an internal administrative review.

Here’s what we know about the escapees:

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• Nikko Burton was serving a three-year community control sentence for receiving stolen property. In September 2024, he was charged with absconding from the facility, which led to an additional six months being added to his sentence this February.
• Jeremy Bowen has a history of burglary convictions in 2014, 2015, and 2016. He was sentenced to three years in prison and was placed on community control for an undetermined period after his release.
• Mark Long pleaded guilty to theft in 2024 and received a three-year community control sentence. Like Burton, he absconded from court jurisdiction in August 2024, and his probation was revoked in December.
• Michael Norton was convicted of breaking and entering in 2022 and sentenced to six months in prison, followed by two years of community control. He was denied early release twice in common pleas court.

As of Thursday night, there has been no comment from county officials regarding the incident.

This is a developing story.

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