Jail escapee sentenced

The first of eight Aug. 24 jail escapees caught by police is getting another two and a half years behind bars, according to a press release from the district attorney’s office.

Victor Apodaca, 40, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of escape from custody and was sentenced as a habitual offender.

Apodaca was captured the night of Aug. 24 after a police officer spotted him wearing his orange jail jumpsuit, crossing the street a few blocks from the Curry County Adult Detention Center.

Apodaca’s capture alerted police to the escape of seven other inmates from the jail and set in motion a nationwide manhunt for the escapees.

Edward Salas, a 24-year-old convicted child killer, is the only escapee who has not been captured.

Apodaca is already serving a 15-year sentence on unrelated charges. He will begin serving his new sentence for the escape after his first sentence is completed, the release said.