After close to two decades of ducking the law, one-man's game of hide and seek with justice has finally come to a close. Steven Capps, an escapee from the Jim E. Hamilton Correctional Center since 2006, has been nabbed by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections' Fugitive Apprehension Unit, reinforced by the federal bench strength of the U.S. Marshals Service. As reported on Oklahoma Department of Corrections yesterday, Capps was originally serving a 10-year sentence for obtaining property by trick or deception when he found his way out of JEHCC in Hodgen, Okla.
First taking flight on August 1, 2006, Capps' bid for freedom was punctuated by a brief stint in Ohio custody for crimes unrelated in 2011. With his Ohio chapter ending on parole in 2021, he seemingly vanished into thin air after a parole violation, failing to report to a parole officer. Then, on the morning of May 7, tipped off by the Fugitive Apprehension Unit's diligent legwork, the U.S. Marshals Service Northern District Task Force stopped Capps' run. Booked into the Muskogee County Jail, his 1,200 days remaining of sentence time loomed back into view.
The capture was a group effort, with ODOC Fugitive Apprehension Agent Jeremiah Crane playing a key role in the investigation, who works closely with Tulsa area and the Northern District U.S. Marshals Task Force. Warden Richard Williams of JEHCC was notified promptly of the capture ensuring that ODOC staff arranged transport from Muskogee County Jail to the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center.
The completion of this particular case showcases the ODOC's unyielding pledge to uphold public safety and the relentless pursuit of accountability. In a statement obtained by the ODOC's own newsroom, ODOC Chief of Operations Jason Sparks commended the teams involved: "This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to public safety and our determination to hold individuals accountable – no matter how long it takes," Sparks said on Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
