The last of four jail inmates who escaped yesterday from custody from within the Circuit Courtroom in Halifax, was captured around 6:30 p.m. to end the massive manhunt both on the ground and in the air.
The three others were captured just minutes after apparently walking out of a courtroom holding cell, down a set of stairways and into a nearby wooded area.
Their escape touched off a search by scores of security and corrections officers, sheriff's deputies, local and state police, a search that included a helicopter overhead and canine units on the ground.
Theotis Marquette Johnson, 18, who jail officials say was serving 20 years for robbery and the use of a firearm, was the last to be captured. When arrested, Johnson had shed his prison attire and was wearing only a pair of shorts.
Major Richard Pulliam said that Johnson was hiding in a tree when captured a short distance from where the other three were taken into custody.
Johnson had been convicted of attempting to rob Christine Baker on November 1, 2000.
All four men had been escorted by security officers from Blue Ridge Jail Adult Detention Center to the Halifax County Circuit Courtroom and were scheduled for sentencing yesterday.
The other three are identified as:
· Maurice Daniel Dance ­ convicted of maliciously shooting against an occupied building on November 26, 2000, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
· Titus L. Singletary ­ convicted of malicious wounding of Roger Traynham on November 26, 2000, use of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
· Lawrence Harvey Everett, Jr. ­ convicted of robbery, wearing a mask in public place, use of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Reporters were unable to learn how the four managed to elude security officers. Captain Theodore Gilliam of Blue Ridge Regional Jail declined to comment, saying only that a statement would be forthcoming today.
Officers involved in the search were overheard to say that none of the escapees were wearing handcuffs when they left the courtroom area.
Susan Vernon, an employee at Houston Cleaners which is located directly behind the courthouse, observed three of the escapes running past her place of work on Mountain Road.
"They were gettin' it!" said Vernon as she described the speed of the trio as they ran by the cleaners and north along Mountain Road.
Vernon said that she did not recall seeing handcuffs nor shackles on the three prison inmates.
Within minutes, Vernon said that a number of police officers ran by in the same direction.
Several officers spotted the three in a heavily wooded area within several hundred yards of where they had managed to escape.

Eddie Louis Barksdale, a 50-year-old Halifax resident convicted during a jury trial in June of raping his juvenile step-daughter, was sentenced Monday in Halifax County Circuit Court to a total of 34 years in prison.
Barksdale received 10 years each for three counts of rape and two years each for two counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor during a five-year period from 1983-1988, sentences recommended by the jury and reaffirmed Monday by Judge Leslie M. Osborn.
Judge Osborn additionally ordered a one-year probationary period for Barksdale following his release.
· Phillip Alfred Betts, 48, of South Boston, was convicted Monday of a probation violation.
Judge Osborn resuspended all but four months of Betts' revoked prison sentence, conditional on his good behavior for five years.
The court additionally ordered Betts to undergo substance abuse counseling following his release and be subject to the same probation conditions as before.
· Samuel Irwin Conner, 33, of Vernon Hill, was sentenced Monday to two years each in prison for the unlawful wounding of Trooper M.S. Roark and for driving after being declared an habitual offender.
Both two-year terms are to run concurrently.
Conner was also sentenced to pay a $100 fine for his misdemeanor conviction of operating an ATV on a public highway.
Judge Osborn suspended all but one year and six months of Conner's two-year sentence, conditional on his good behavior for five years following his release.
The court additionally ordered a one-year period of probation for Conner, and authorized work release for him after six months of incarceration.
· Corliss Sydnor Faulkner, 34, of Virgilina, was sentenced Monday to 12 months in prison for the felony obstruction of justice.
Judge Osborn suspended Faulkner's sentence to time already served on the condition of his good behavior for five years following his release.
The court additionally ordered a one-year probationary period for Faulkner.
· Michelle Newman, 28, of South Boston, was convicted Monday of a probation violation.
Judge Osborn resuspended all but two years of Newman's revoked prison sentence.
The court additionally ordered Newman to be subjected to a one year period of probation after her release, to submit to random drug tests and to undergo alcohol and drug treatment.
· George Daniel Palmer, 24, of Nathalie, was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison for the malicious wounding of Carolyn Waller.
Palmer was additionally sentenced to 10 years in prison for use of a firearm to commit malicious wounding, five years each for two charges of possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony and to three years in prison for shooting into an occupied building.
Judge Osborn suspended all but two years each for the wounding and firearm use charges, and ordered the two five-year firearm possession terms to be served concurrently for an effective prison term of 12 years.
No time was suspended for the shooting charge.
Judge Osborn ordered the suspended portions of Palmer's sentence be made conditional on his good behavior for 40 years following his release.
The court additionally ordered a two-year probationary period for Palmer and that he pay restitution in the amount of $17,575.66.
· Marco Azeleus Richardson, 24, of Halifax, was sentenced Monday to 10 years each in prison for cocaine distribution and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Judge Osborn suspended all of Richardson's prison sentence, except for one year and five months for the distribution charge.
The suspended portions of Richardson's sentence were made conditional on his good behavior for 20 years following his release.
The court additionally ordered Richardson to be subjected to a one-year probationary period and to pay $80 in restitution.
· Brad Antonio Walker, 23, of South Boston, was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for the distribution of an imitation schedule II controlled substance.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 30 days of Walker's sentence, conditional on his good behavior for three years following his release.
The court additionally ordered Walker to be subjected to a six-month period of probation.
· David Lee Ware, 37, of Nathalie, was sentenced Monday to 10 years each in prison for the manufacture of marijuana and for the distribution of marijuana.
The court also sentenced Ware to five years each in prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony and for possessing a firearm while possessing marijuana.
Judge Osborn suspended all but four years each for the manufacture and distribution charges, to be served concurrently, and ordered the two five-year terms for possessing a firearm to be served concurrently, resulting in effective prison term of nine years.
The court ordered the suspended portions of Ware's sentence to be conditional on his good behavior for 30 years, and additionally ordered a one-year probationary period for Ware.

Two South Boston men were convicted of illegally manufacturing and selling communications devices that permit television viewers to access satellite signals and thus deny service providers revenue.
Thomas Earl Webster, Glenwood Drive, pleaded guilty to four counts of the possession, manufacturing, sale and conspiring to sell unlawful communications devices between August 1 and December 12, 2000.
Judge Leslie Osborn ordered a presentence report for Webster that will be delivered at the next term of court and allowed him to remain free on bond.
Christopher Neil Wilmouth, an Ash Avenue resident, was convicted of unlawful possession of communication devices with intent to manufacture, the manufacture and sale of the same and conspiring to sell the devices.
Wilmouth was, at the time of the offenses, employed with Apex Digital, a home service provider for Direct TV. An Apex official testified that Wilmouth's duties including the installation of and service of the devices.
Evidence presented by Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker told how Wilmouth was able to remove program cards from the communication devices and have Webster reprogram the cards by accessing a site a "black market" site on the internet.
The two were engaged in what Greenbacker described as a thriving business, one that made the "a pile of money."
Major Richard Pulliam with the Halifax County sheriff's department described how an undercover agent was able to purchase from Wilmouth one of the illegal devices that allowed access to Direct TV without having to pay any programming fees.
The device accessed what viewers would normally have to pay to view along with programs including hard core pornography.
Wilmouth was remanded to jail to await a presentence report at the next term of court.

Tommy Holland didn't have his best day when he competed in the USA Powerlifting Nationals Saturday in Charlottesville.
But it was good enough.
Holland, a Halifax resident, put together a 1,425 pound lift total to win the national title by a five-pound margin in the 198-pound weight class of the Masters Division for individuals ages 40-45.
"It wasn't the prettiest win I've ever had but it was the sweetest," said Holland.
Holland, who had earlier won the Virginia AAU state powerlifting championships, faced the Virginia USA Powerlifting champion in the battle for the national title.
The Halifax County resident posted a 510-pound lift in the squat, logged a 390-pound bench press and came through with a 525-pound dead lift to make his 1,425 pound total lift.
Ironically, Holland barely qualified for the national title. It took a 1,420 pound total lift to qualify for the national championship.
Then, he got a little help from his opponent.
"He bombed out," Holland said.
"He didn't make it through the judges. That's why I'm here. The guy was a Navy Seal from Virginia Beach. I know that guy was stronger than I am.
"I wanted to be a national champion," added Holland.
"But I hate to see anybody bomb out. When he bombed out, he came over and congratulated me very professionally. He was real good about it."
Holland pointed out that form and technique is just as important as brute strength and lifting ability in competition.
"USA Powerlifting is very strict on form," Holland said.
"The judges were very strict but I like it like that. I wasn't the strongest one there but my form got me through it. The better man bombed out on his squats. Technique will see you through a lot of times.
"That's why we're so hard on each other when we're in the gym," added Holland.
"It pays off when you go to compete in these meets."
While a competitor's mistake allowed Holland to prevail in the competition, it was another competitor's assistance that put him in right position in the first place.
Holland left home and went to the meet with three squat suits, all of which were legal under AAU rules.
However, after getting dressed and prepared for the competition, USA Powerlifting officials ruled that Holland's suits were not legal under that sanctioning body's rules.
Holland's day could have ended right there. But it didn't.
"I met a guy from New York and he got me one of his to use," said Holland.
"He weighed around 242 pounds. It was way too big for me but that's what I had to work with. Thanks to him, I was able to compete."
The experience of competing in the national championship meet was invaluable. Holland said.
"I'll go back next year a lot smarter on my equipment than I did this year," he noted.
With the national championship in hand, Holland says all of the pressure is off, that is, until next year.
With his total lift of 1,425 pounds, Holland has automatically qualified himself for next year's national meet.
"I don't have to go back to the state championships and win in order to go back to the nationals," Holland said.
"I may just lay low next year and work on my weak points and go back to the nationals. If I do anything next year other than the nationals it would be to compete in the Virginia AAU meet. I may compete in that and try to break my own American record in the bench press, I also need to work on my squat."
"My main goal for the next year," he added, "is stay injury free."
Holland says he very much appreciates the help of two friends that work out with him and assist him in his training - Kenneth Conner and Ray Stevens.
"Kenneth is state quality," Holland pointed out.
"I'd say he could win the state (title) and do well in the nationals. I want to thank him for going with me and coaching me. I also want to thank Ray Stevens for helping me. He's done a lot to help, too."
The national championship is the biggest accomplishment Holland has achieved since he started competing 28 years ago.
"I've been competing in lifting since 1983 but I never really won anything big until 1999," Holland pointed out.
"That's when I really started doing well."
After taking a brief break, Holland will get back to his training.
He will also be focusing time and attention on his new business venture, the Downtown Athletic Club, which is located in downtown South Boston adjacent to Hailey's House of Carpets.
Holland had been training at the World of Sports. However, when the fitness center closed there, he was forced to look at other alternatives in order to continue his workouts.
"Myself and a couple of friends a put our money together and opened a hard-core gym," he explained.
"We have everything there you need in order to accomplish your goals. It is an excellent facility for us and anyone else that wants to become involved, to train."

Hinkel Shelton

Hinkel Shelton, 78, of Ringgold died August 27.
Born January 3, 1923, in Greenville County, Tn., he was a son of the late John E. Shelton and Magnolia Cutshaw Shelton. He was married to the late Ella Sue Singleton Shelton. Mr. Shelton was a retired dairy farmer and an Army Veteran of WWII.
Survivors include three sons, Jerry Lee Shelton of Gretna, Don G. Shelton of Ringgold and Junior Irby of King George; three daughters, Fuschia Shelton and Juanita Talley, both of Fredericksburg and Charlotte Hall of Halifax; seven brothers, Clifford Shelton of Charlotte, NC, Fred Shelton, Wade French and Gerald Shelton, all of Marshall, NC, Dennis Shelton of Flag Pond, Tn., Barnabas Shelton and Odell Shelton, both of Erwin, Tn.; three sisters, Arline Shelton and Lois Hensley, both of Greenville, Tn., and Louise Atkinson of Anderson, In.; 13 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
Graveside services for Mr. Shelton will be held at 11 a.m. today, August 29 at Altavista Memorial Park by the Rev. Justin L. Williams.

Gregory B. Hazelwood Sr.

Gregory B. Hazelwood Sr., 72, of 11235 L.P. Bailey Hwy., Nathalie, died August 27 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Hazelwood was born in Halifax County on June 14, 1929, the son of Thomas Lee Hazelwood and Bettie Seamster Hazelwood and was married to Christine M. Hazelwood. He was a farmer and a well known builder of birdhouses.
Graveside services will be held August 30 at 2 p.m. at the Hazelwood Family Cemetery in Nathalie with the Revs. Jeff Jones and Bob Watts conducting the service. Peggy and Gary Wilson and Wilma Lee Lacks will be singing during the service.
Survivors of Mr. Hazelwood include his wife; two sons, Michael Hazelwood and Ben Hazelwood, both of Nathalie; one daughter and son-in-law, Norma H. and Cliff Bryant of Martinsville; one sister, Lena Conner of Red House; one brother, Raymond Hazelwood of Chase City; one grandson, Corky Bryant; one granddaughter, Kristal Bryant; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one son, Gregory 'Pete' Hazelwood Jr.; one sister, Gracie Conner; and three brothers, Sydnor, Thomas and Charlie Hazelwood.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home this evening, August 29, between 7:00 and 8:30, and other times at the home.

Lola Ballou Wood

Lola Ballou Wood of 2003 Sinai Road, South Boston, died August 26 at Calvary Hospital in Bronx, N.Y.
Mrs. Wood was born in Halifax County the daughter of the late Ed Ballou and Melissa Brooks Ballou and was married to Alfred Edward Wood. She was a member of Banister Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Thelma Dean of White Plains, N.Y.; two sons, Jimmy Edward Wood of South Boston and Alfred Donnell Wood of Halifax; two brothers, Herbert Ballou and Eugene Ballou, both of South Boston; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by one grandson, Jamar Wood.
Funeral services for Mrs. Wood will be held August 31 at 11 a.m. at Banister Hill Baptist with the Rev. Dr. William Carr officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:00 at the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home and other times at the home.