Inmate who escaped courthouse faces federal charges
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EVANSTON — Jonathan Olivares, the man who allegedly assaulted a detention officer, stole her firearm and stole a car at gunpoint at the Uinta County Complex in June, has been indicted on federal charges related to that incident. A grand jury indictment was filed on Sept. 20 on three charges, including carjacking, using/carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The carjacking charge carries a maximum penalty of no more than 15 years imprisonment, the use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence a penalty of no less than seven years to life consecutive imprisonment and the felon in possession of a firearm charge up to 10 years of imprisonment. The three counts also carry potential fines up to $750,000.
Olivares had just appeared in court on charges of delivery of heroin when he allegedly disarmed the detention officer and escaped from custody on June 26. He appeared in Third District Court in Evanston in late August and entered guilty pleas to seven counts stemming from that incident, including interfering with a peace officer by intentionally and knowingly disarming her of her firearm, escaping from detention by assault upon a person, aggravated robbery, felony theft of a vehicle and aggravated assault and battery, as well as theft of a firearm.
The court ordered a competency hearing prior to accepting Olivares’ guilty pleas on those charges. However, Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson in an email to the Herald said all pending charges were dismissed, including those Olivares was arraigned for on June 26 and the charges related to the escape, “to facilitate federal prosecution for the indictment issued in September.” She said all charges that do not present a concern of double jeopardy will be refiled “in the near future to ... [ensure] resolution.”
Olivares entered not guilty pleas on all three federal counts at an Oct. 2 appearance in U.S. District Court in Casper, and a trial has been set for Nov. 26 with Judge Scott W. Skavdahl presiding. Olivares has been transferred from the Uinta County Detention Center to federal custody pending trial.
