WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Lexington County inmate who escaped 20 years ago now out for good

Lexington County inmate who escaped 20 years ago now out for good

(Lexington) January 13, 2006 - The man who was recaptured this week after escaping from the Lexington County jail 20 years ago is now out of jail with permission.

Van Kirk Bland, II, came back to the Lexington County jail Tuesday after spending almost 20 years on the run. On Wednesday, a judge denied bond for the re-captured inmate.

Thursday, a judge sentenced Bland to two years in jail, but dismissed the sentence because of the six years Bland already served in a Louisiana prison. Bland also has to pay about $4,000 in fines.

On Friday, Bland was released at 3:30pm and he's expected to head back home to his wife and son in Maryland.

At the time of his escape, he was in jail for 45 days on a parole violation. He escaped during work duty watering the lawn in front of the jail. When asked why, he responded, "I had a lot of bad things going on in my life then."

Investigators searched without success. Sgt. Henry Dukes explains, "We didn't have the technology back then like we do today."

Bland was arrested in Louisiana later that year for promoting prostitution. He served six years.

Louisiana was supposed to tell Lexington County when he got out, but they didn't. Then, last November, a Sergeant researching cold cases learned through computer technology Bland wasn't in prison. He was living near the beach, in Berlin, Maryland and had apparently lived there since 1992.

Sgt. Dukes says, "He actually does construction work."

"He stayed in an area that has 50 or 60,000 people in it."

While there, according to Sheriff James Metts, "He established a family. My understanding is he has a 12 year old son who doesn't know anything about this charge at all. So it's a surprise to his family."

State police and U.S. Marshals arrested Bland at home.

He was taken back to the Lexington County Detention Facility. Sheriff James Metts welcomed him, "It's my responsibility to give you a copy of the affidavit and welcome you back to the Lexington County Detention Facility."

Bland responded politely, "Thank you, Sheriff."

His original sentence was 45 days. For escaping, he faces 15 years in prison.

"Inmates who escape from the Detention Center need to understand that we will search for them as long as it takes to arrest them and bring them to justice in Lexington County," Metts said in a written news release.

Since being assigned to the fugitive task force in October 2005, the sergeant who conducts cold-case fugitive investigations has served 93 arrest warrants, administratively cleared an additional 375 warrants and located 55 fugitives.

Reported by Jennifer Miskewicz

Updated 11:05pm by Bryce Mursch