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Former Fugitive Held Without Bail In Tampa

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2007

Updated: 10/26/2007 12:11 pm

Video: Escaped Convict Appears Before Judge

TAMPA - The man who had been on the lam since he escaped prison in 1979 will remain behind bars without bail after his arrest Thursday, a judge ordered today.

Michael Hess

Michael Hess, of 507 W. Cleveland St., was working as a cook at The Press Box, a sports bar at 222 S. Dale Mabry Highway, when he was arrested, police said.

Hess faces charges of escape and misdemeanor marijuana possession. He pled not guilty to the drug charges.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a tip about Hess, who had escaped from prison after serving eight years of a 65-year sentence for robbing convenience stores.

Now 57, even if he only serves the balance of his original term, it will be a life sentence.

"I realize I did wrong leaving, but for the past 29 years I haven't done wrong, and I'm proud of that," Hess said.

"All I could see is escape never goes away, and I thought about it. … Like I said, I just tried to do all right and stay out of everybody's way," he said.

After his escape, Hess took the name Charles Swiger, a Tampa man who died in the early '70s.

News Channel 8 reporter Chip Osowski contributed to this report.

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