Sheriff: Wagoner Co. Inmate Attempted Escape During Trial For Previous Escape

An inmate sentenced to 25 years in prison for beating up a jailer and escaping from Wagoner County jail tried to escape again while he was awaiting trial this week, the sheriff said.

Wagoner County Sheriff Bob Colbert said Larry Cotton was transferred to the state prison in McAlester when he was recaptured in July.

This week, Cotton was brought back to the Wagoner County jail, so he could meet with his attorney during his trial.

Colbert said deputies were checking Cotton's cell every 15 minutes, but Cotton still managed to dig a hole in the ceiling above the secure bathroom area, which couldn't be seen from outside his cell.

10/21/2013 Related Story: Wagoner County Escapees Sentenced To 25 More Years In Prison

The Sheriff said he wouldn't have gotten very far, anyway--there was a just another concrete ceiling above the tile Cotton cut through.

Cotton and Mickey Staggs pleaded guilty Monday morning to escape, robbery and battery charges. The sheriff's office said surveillance video showed the two men luring a jailer into an empty cell, beating him up, and taking his keys.

Cotton was originally in jail, charged with possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, endangering others while attempting to elude police, possession of a stolen vehicle, knowingly concealing stolen property, and several other traffic related charges, including running a roadblock and failure to pay a toll.

According to Oklahoma Department of Corrections records, Cotton previously did time for possession of a controlled drug and larceny of an automobile. He was released in 2011.

Colbert said this latest incident just goes to show how desperate Cotton is. He said the Wagoner County District Attorney plans to charge Cotton with attempted escape, which, if convicted, could add another 10 years to his current sentence.