The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A Sangamon County Jail inmate was charged with attempted escape on Wednesday after he allegedly pretended to be a different inmate who was being allowed to leave the jail.
Kenneth R. Gullo Jr., 38, of the 2000 block of East Spruce Street had been in the jail since Sunday for a Logan County retail theft warrant when around 5 p.m. Tuesday a bond payment was posted for a different inmate, said Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell.
A correctional officer called out the name of the inmate who was being released on bond and then Gullo yelled out in response that he was the inmate they were looking for, Campbell said.
According to a sheriff’s office report, Gullo was brought into a jail booking office and allowed to change out of his jail inmate outfit and was given the other inmate’s clothes to change into. Gullo also allegedly signed the other inmate’s name to the bond papers, the report said.
As correctional officers were continuing to process the release, they heard a knocking come from a nearby cell and another inmate say he was the one that was supposed to be released on bond and that Gullo was wearing the other inmate’s clothes.
“I turned to the inmate on the bench (Gullo) and asked him if he put on another inmate’s clothing,” the report from the correctional officer said. “The inmate stated ‘I thought you guys were calling for Ken. I do have jeans and a button up back there though.’ I asked the inmate ... again, if he put on another inmate’s clothing to which he responded ‘I’m just trying to go home.’”
Campbell said that even if the other inmate had not alerted correctional officers, jail officials would have detected Gullo was not who he was allegedly claiming to be because he would have had to tell officers pertinent personal information, such as Social Security number and home address, before he could be released.
Gullo has a preliminary hearing on the attempted escape charge on April 18.
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©2019 The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.