Pubdate: Tue, 08 Nov 2005
Source: Ledger, The (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The Ledger
Contact:  http://www.theledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/795
Author: Amber Smith, The Ledger
Related Article: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1677/a08.html

FUGITIVE ARRESTED IN LAKE COUNTY

David Dent Faces A 30-Year Sentence For His Escape While On Furlough From Jail

HAINES CITY -- An anonymous tip ended David Dent's life on the lam.

Dent ignored the threat of a 30-year sentence and failed to return to 
the Polk County Jail after his brother's funeral.

But on Monday morning, he was taken into custody by Lake County 
Sheriff's deputies as he ate breakfast at a Denny's Restaurant.

The 30-year-old Dent, who was jailed on several marijuana trafficking 
charges, was being held in the Lake County Jail on Monday afternoon.

"We arrested him on an escape warrant from Polk County," said Lake 
County sheriff's Sgt. Christie Mysinger.

"He missed first appearances here this morning, so we will probably 
be keeping him overnight and then Polk County will come and get him 
(today)," Mysinger said.

Mysinger said Dent did not resist arrest.

Carrie Rodgers, a spokeswoman for the Polk County Sheriff's Office, 
said deputies will have to wait for his first appearance in Lake 
County before they can go get him today.

"We are sending two warrants deputies to go get him," Rodgers said.

Haines City police got a tip Monday morning that Dent was seen eating 
at the Denny's restaurant on U.S. 192 north of the Haines City exit 
from Interstate 4.

"We got a call from someone who said he was there eating alone and we 
called the Lake County Sheriff's Office to go pick him up," said 
Haines City police Detective Sgt. Jay Hopwood.

Dent, who police say is the biggest marijuana dealer in the area, was 
granted a weeklong furlough Oct. 18 by Circuit Judge Dick Prince to 
attend his brother's funeral later that week.

The State Attorney's Office objected to the furlough and said Dent 
was a flight risk.

Dent was to be back at the county jail by 6 p.m. Oct. 23. He never showed up.

Prince told Dent during his furlough hearing that if he skipped town 
while on furlough he would Dent has pled guilty to one drug charge 
before his furlough was granted.

As part of his agreement, Dent promised not to commit any new crimes, 
use alcohol or drugs, and submit to being searched and tested for 
alcohol or drugs upon turning himself in.

"If you violate this, it will be 30 years. Period," Prince said 
during the hearing. "And I will not waver from it."

Dent is still scheduled for sentencing on the drug trafficking 
charges on Nov. 28.

Prince did not return a Ledger reporter's phone call for comment Monday.

Dent was signed out of jail by Walter Henderson, a reserve lieutenant 
with the Davenport police.

Henderson was placed on administrative leave by Davenport Police 
Chief Charles Clements, who also has asked the Florida Department of 
Law Enforcement to conduct an investigation.

Chip Thullbery, administrative assistant to State Attorney Jerry 
Hill, said he did not know whether Dent would be facing any 
additional charges because of his escape.
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