MASON CITY – A Hampton man who escaped late last year from Beje Clark Residential Facility in Mason City and who robbed several Hampton businesses, including churches, while he was free has been convicted and sent to prison.
Jeremy Nicholas Mulford, 32, escaped from Beje Clark Residential Facility in Mason City on October 14th, 2012 and was captured in Hampton, Iowa on December 24th, 2012 after a police officer spotted Mulford walking down a sidewalk there. According to Hampton Police Chief Robert Schaefer, as the officer approached, Mulford fled and “the chase was on.” Mulford was apprehended, and in the course of the chase, a Hampton police officer was injured.
Chief Schaefer said that Mulford allegedly burglarized six Hampton businesses: PJ’s Barber Shop; Franklin County Conservation Building; First Christian Church; Church of the Living Word; St. Patrick’s Catholic Church; and Church of Christ.
Mulford was charged with second degree burglary, (a class C felony) and five counts of 3rd degree burglary (class D felonies) as well as escape of a felon, a class D felony.
Mulford plead guilty to voluntary escape – a serious misdemeanor – and avoided the felony D charge of escape of a felon. He was sentenced to 8 days in jail and owes Iowa courts $996.38 in fees and fines.
On the 6 burglary charges, three were thrown out at trial on March 25th, 2013. Mulford was found guilty of three counts of felony C third degree burglary and was sentenced to 5 years in prison on each count, all to be served concurrently but consecutively to jail time for his parole revocation. His parole revocation charge is still in court.
Mulford owes Iowa courts $3,340.28 in court costs and restitution; all fines were thrown out involving the burglary charges.
Among other debts, Mulford still owes Iowa courts $10,127.71 after a felony drug conviction in 2009, which included possession of lithium, ethyl ether and pseudoephedrine, all components in the cooking of methamphetamine. Mulford has also been found guilty of trespassing in Mason City.
Mulford was transported to Oakdale in Coralville, Iowa for processing on April 4th, 2013.
GUILTY AND SENT TO PRISON
