Escapee receives 12-18 months

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Work Ethic Camp inmate that escaped the facility last July, stealing a local vehicle and avoiding apprehension for nearly two months before being arrested in Wyoming, will likely serve a year in state prison as result of the crime.

The offender, 21-year-old Drew Steier, accepted a plea agreement in January admitting guilt to a pair of Class III felony offenses for escape and theft by unlawful taking. He was sentenced last week in Red Willow County District Court to a state prison sentence of 24 to 36 months on each count, however, the sentences were ordered to be served at the same time. Nebraska's "good time" law also cuts each sentence term in half, meaning Steier will only by required to serve 12 to 18 months.

Steier scaled the nine and a half feet perimeter fence of the WEC at just past 5 p.m. on July 5, 2013. He made his way to McCook on foot and stole a 1996 Subaru Legacy he discovered in front of a residence, with the keys under the driver's side sun visor.

Steier ran out of gas near Green River, Utah, and vehicle was recovered by Utah State Patrol officers on July 12, 2013. Steier was subsequently arrested by the Evanston Wyoming Police Department at just before 3 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2013.

At the time of his escape Steier had served less than a year of a 1.5 to 3 year sentence that resulted from a botched robbery attempt of the Farmer's State Bank in Wallace, Nebraska. He was convicted in Lincoln County on a Class III felony offense of attempted robbery stemming from that crime.