Lexington, Ky. —George Clark, 35, and Timothy Roberts, 19, both of Lexington, were indicted today for conspiring to escape from the Federal Medical Center in Lexington.

The Indictment alleges that in January of 2008, Clark and Roberts made plans to escape from the federal prison. As part of this plan, Clark and Roberts made ropes from laundry bags, handcrafted a grappling hook constructed from coat hooks, and obtained prison issued coats marked “Receiving and Delivery Only” that allowed them access to a low security section of the prison. These items were hidden in the men’s cells to avoid detection by prison officials. However, authorities were tipped off about the planned escape by other inmates. Clark and Roberts were being held on pending drug charges.

James A. Zerhusen, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Larry R. Willis, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), jointly made the announcement today after a federal grand jury in Lexington returned the Indictment.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI. The Indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Sparks.

The appearance of Clark and Roberts before the United States District Court has not yet been set by the Court in Lexington, Ky. If convicted, both men face a maximum prison sentence of five years. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.

The indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only, and that person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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