January 23, 2003                                                                                       Contact: Michael Winder
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                               (605) 773-3478

State Prison Walkaway In Custody in Louisiana

(Pierre) - A South Dakota prison inmate who walked away from the Yankton Trusty Unit nearly four years ago is back in custody.

Michael Kaip was apprehended by law enforcement in Sulpher, Louisiana Thursday. Kaip is in custody of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office.

Kaip failed to return to the Yankton Trusty Unit March 12, 1999 following a work release assignment. At the time, he was serving a five year, 10-month, 10-day sentence for Grand Theft out of Grant County.

He will be returned to South Dakota to face an escape charge, which carries a mandatory sentence of no less than seven years upon conviction. Under state law, the sentence on conviction for an escape begins once the last sentence of imprisonment is complete.

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