Prisoner in minimum-security portion of OSP escapes

MCALESTER, Okla. (AP) _ A prisoner escaped from the minimum-security portion of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on Saturday, authorities said. <br><br>OSP visitors were turned away as prison officials

Sunday, March 18th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MCALESTER, Okla. (AP) _ A prisoner escaped from the minimum-security portion of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on Saturday, authorities said.

OSP visitors were turned away as prison officials reassigned staff to help look for Charles P. Norris, who was serving a 20-year sentence for forgery, Lee Mann, a spokeswoman for the prison, said.

Prison officials noticed Norris, 37, was missing around 8 a.m. Saturday, Mann said.

``There's no outside fences, he didn't have to go through any barriers,'' she said. ``There was nothing complicated to escape.''

Norris is described as a white man, 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 182 pounds. He has hazel eyes and brown hair, DOC officials said.

A car may have picked up Norris, Mann said. He was last seen wearing a white prison uniform.