ZANESVILLE, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Muskingum County Jail escape case has reached its conclusion as the final three co-defendants were sentenced in court. Wayne Pletcher’s escape from jail in February of this year prompted a significant legal response, leading to nine individuals pleading guilty in connection with the incident.
Sara Moore, Lindsey Richards, and Christina Webb (Pletcher) appeared before Judge Cottrill in Muskingum County Court to receive their sentencing.
On June 16, 2025, Sara Moore was sentenced for her role in the escape, receiving 7 to 10 ½ years in prison for Complicity in the Commission of an Offense, a second-degree felony. Additionally, she was sentenced to 30 months for Obstructing Justice, a third-degree felony. The sentences will run concurrently, placing her total prison time at 7 to 10 ½ years. Moore admitted to aiding Pletcher’s escape by holding a door open and driving him away from the jail, subsequently assisting him in his attempts to evade capture.
Lindsey Richards received her sentencing on June 23, 2025, also before Judge Cottrill. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison for Obstructing Justice. Richards knowingly allowed Pletcher and Moore into her home during their flight, facilitating a drug transaction that occurred during their visit before they fled again.
On the same day, Christina Webb (Pletcher), the sister of Wayne Pletcher, was sentenced to a total of 18 months in prison. Facing charges of Obstructing Justice and Possessing Criminal Tools, Judge Cottrill ordered both sentences to be served concurrently. Webb picked up Pletcher, fully aware of his escape, and transported him to a location where he could hide.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Warren T. Edwards emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The fact that every single person involved with this escape in any way received a prison sentence should serve as a warning to deter anyone else who thinks about escaping the jail in this county or assisting anyone who does.”
The case involved several additional co-defendants, including Vanessa Cooper, Laken Hammonds, James Pletcher, Leona DeJesus, Eliveea Largent, and Joshua Riggs. With these final sentences, the legal proceedings stemming from the Muskingum County Jail escape have come to a close.