Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog
Stephen L. Foster, a 36-year-old Lynn man who escaped from a halfway house in Manchester, turned himself into authorities Sunday afternoon. Foster returned to the Calumet Transitional Housing Unit in New Hampshire around 3:30 p.m. He was discovered missing during a routine inspection around 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Foster is being held at the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord. A spokesperson for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections told the Boston Globe that it is likely that Foster will be charged with escaping. He could be facing 3 ½ to 7 years for the escape. Since the facility was a halfway house, the spokesperson said that inmates can leave with permission for things like job interviews.
Foster was originally sentenced to 5-10 years at the Merrimack County Superior Court for armed robbery. His maximum release date was December 14, so it is unclear why he escaped.
When a person tries to escape from a penal institution, the consequences are serious and speaking with a defense attorney right away is advisable. Not only could the looming charges be devastating for Foster, but if there was anyone who helped him to escape, they could be held criminally responsible as well.
Although it was not a good idea for Foster to escape in the first place, the fact that he turned himself in so quickly will likely work in his favor. A sentencing judge will like look at him more favorably since he came back on his own accord and the Commonwealth didn’t have to use up valuable time and resources tracking him down.
Source: The Boston Globe, Prison escapee from Lynn returned to NH prison
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