Caledonia Argus

ëWalk-awayí from jail leads to felony escape charge

Posted: 6/22/04

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

A Caledonia man faces a felony escape from custody charge after failing to return to the jail while on a job-hunting furlough.

Thomas Ambuehl, 42, was released from the jail on June 8 to look for work. His wife, Luane, took him to La Crosse at about 8 a.m. that morning. He was to return by 1 p.m.

Luane called the sheriffís office at 1 p.m. to say that her husband ìhad run off in La Crosse,î according to the criminal complaint.

An arrest warrant was issued for him by Houston County Circuit Court Judge James Fabian. He had not been apprehended as of June 21 when this paper went to press.

Ambuehl was convicted on February 2, 2004, of first degree driving while intoxicated. He started to serve his 180-day sentence on May 18. During that time, Judge Fabian granted him a furlough for job search.

Such an escape from custody is informally called a ìwalk-awayî by law enforcement people. In addition to a possible felony conviction, it also leads to loss of privileges while serving the jail term such as working on a sentence to serve crew, Houston County jail administrator Mark Schiltz said.

Top of Page