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Hillsborough Deputy Played Cards While Inmate Plotted Escape: IA Report

News Channel 8 file photo by JOHN WINTERROWD (2008)

Deputies found escaped Falkenburg Road inmate Raymond Marston after a search that lasted nearly a week.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2009

Updated: 02/19/2009 08:27 pm

Related Links

• Read The Report
• Escapee Out For Days

Raymond Marston

TAMPA - While a rape suspect was plotting his escape from Falkenburg Road Jail, a detention deputy assigned to supervise him was playing card games with other inmates, an Internal Affairs report states.

The deputy, Kevin Corcoran, was one of three Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office employees who violated rules, according to an investigative summary report obtained today by the Tampa Tribune about the inmate's escape. Corcoran resigned Feb. 11 in lieu of dismissal, deputies say.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway and Col. Jim Previtera declined comment on the summary findings.

After a search that lasted nearly a week, deputies found escaped inmate Raymond Marston on Oct. 30 hiding near the same bridge where authorities say he raped a woman in May. Marston, 50, escaped from the jail as he was being escorted to a medical clinic.

Deputy James Flagg had left Marston to make a call about where the escort deputy was, and when Flagg returned, Marston was gone.

Marston told investigators he had planned his escape for months. An elaborate plan involving a magic marker allowed him to dye a pair of boxer shorts, and he fashioned a shirt out of a pillow case. On Oct. 26, he wore the clothes on under his orange jump suit and acted as if he was having chest pains.

Marston fled when he saw no one was paying attention to him. When he reached Housing Unit 2, he climbed on its roof and jumped to the ground outside the facility.

Deputies told investigators communication was poor in letting staff know of Marston's escape and there was little guidance from superior officers. One deputy said the situation was handled "in a way kind of Keystone Cops."

Flagg's negligence allowed Marston a chance to escape, according to the findings. The following rule violations were sustained against Flagg: inattention to duties and negligence – associated with safety of persons or property

Flagg died in the time between the escape and the report's findings.

Flagg's supervisor, Lt. Michael Farrier, failed to properly supervise the search for Marston, according to the report. The report says his mistakes meant pertinent information wasn't passed on to patrol units and surrounding law enforcement agencies.

"His negligence in not sounding the alarm created a potential threat to uninformed law enforcement officers and the general public," the findings state.

The following rule violations were sustained against Farrier: supervisory responsibility, failure to follow protocol, and negligence – associated with safety of persons or property. He was suspended for five days, deputies say.

The most striking charges outlined in the findings were against Deputy Kevin Corcoran.

Inmate Johnny Wade testified that during his confinement in Housing Unit Six Delta, Corcoran was "…never at his desk, he sits down and plays pinochle with us (inmates) all day, plays spades with us all day, he sells food … he calls for extra trays and sells those to us for racks (cookies) like we do."

Wade said Corcoran, under the alias "Pasco," participated in a football pool with inmates and gambled for canteen items.

Corcoran admitted to selling inmates trays of food he received from the sheriff's office several times, according to the findings. He also admitted to allowing an inmate to possess his handcuff key on three occasions for the purpose of fixing hair clippers assigned to the housing unit.

According to the findings, Corcoran's "inability in the effective handling of inmates" was a contributing factor to Marston's escape. The following rule violations were sustained against Corcoran: horse play, distractions; inattention to duties; negligence – associated with safety of persons or property; unprofessional relationship with an inmate; conduct unbecoming a member of the sheriff's office; and commission of a felony (bribery in athletic contests).

Details were unavailable Thursday on whether criminal charges would be filed against Corcoran.

A tip from two homeless brothers who frequently camp out under the bridge at Sheldon and Mohr roads led deputies to Marston. He had been in jail since May 27 on charges including sexual battery, kidnapping, robbery and aggravated battery.

On Oct. 30, Marston was booked in to Orient Road Jail on an additional charge of escape from confinement. He is now identified as an escape risk, jail records show.

Marston remains without bail in Orient Road Jail.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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