Search continues for two Oklahoma prison inmates who walked away from prison

Thursday, July 10th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Hodgen-AP) -- The search continues today for two Oklahoma inmates who walked away from the James E. Hamilton Correctional Center.

Authorities say 22-year-old David D. Bender and 25-year-old Jeffery K. Thomas were missing during a head count on Friday night. The prison is a minimum-security center in Le Flore County.

Bender was imprisoned for second-degree burglary, possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, all out of Tulsa County. He had a parole hearing scheduled in three months.

Thomas was in prison for obtaining money by false pretenses out of Okmulgee County. He was also jailed for possession of a controlled drug out of Tulsa County

Prison officials say they're considered armed and dangerous.