Oklahoma Prison Escapee Pleads Guilty To Federal Assault Charge

A man arrested for escaping from McAlester prison in 2015 pleaded guilty this week in federal court for trying to hit a U.S. Marshal during a police chase.  

Ronald Thomas, 38, escaped in June 2015.  After tracking him to Sapulpa the next day, local, state and federal law enforcement chased a pickup he was driving.  

The U.S. Attorney for Northern District of Oklahoma, Danny Williams says during that chase, Thomas drove at a federal marshal with his truck before eventually getting away.

Several days later, he was arrested in Sand Springs after another police chase.

6/12/2015 Related Story: Prison Escapee Crashes In High-Speed Chase Near Sand Springs

“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day they go to work in order to keep the public safe. The safety of those officers is a paramount concern to the United States Attorney’s Office,” Danny Williams said.

Ronald Thomas was serving a 20-year sentence out of Washington County for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle at the time of his escape. 

He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13.