Clovis, NM ~ Ninth Judicial District Attorney Matthew Chandler announced today that the first August 24, 2008 Curry County escapee to be caught was also the first to be convicted.  Victor Apodaca, age 40, was convicted of one count of Escape from Jail (a 4th degree felony) and sentenced to serve the maximum time allowed by law of 18 months in prison.  Because Apodoca is a repeat offender the Court granted the District Attorney’s request to add an additional one (1) year to the sentence for being a habitual criminal, increasing the prison sentence to a total of 2 ½ years.   
On August 24th, 2008, Apodaca and seven other jail inmates escaped from the Curry County Detention Center.  Apodaca was the first escapee apprehended when Clovis Police Officer Stephen Borders observed Apodaca attempting to cross 12th Street wearing orange pants and a white tank top, which is normal jail attire for inmates housed at the detention center.  After a short pursuit, Victor Apodaca was apprehended by the Clovis Police Department and arrested.     
Days after the escape, Victor Apodaca was convicted and sentenced on a separate case and sentenced to serve fifteen (15) years in prison.  At sentencing, the court ordered that Apodaca would have to complete his fifteen (15) year sentence on the former charges before starting the two and a half (2 ½)  year sentence, bringing the total time of incarceration for Victor Apodaca to seventeen and a half (17 ½) years.   
The Honorable Judge Stephen K. Quinn presided over the sentencing and Chief Deputy District Attorney Andrea Reeb prosecuted the case for the State.  For further information concerning this case, please contact the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office.