A state inmate who walked away in January from a minimum security area of the prison at Licking was sentenced to seven years in prison last week.
John T. Long, 42, received the sentence before Circuit Judge William Hickle. It is to run concurrently with other sentences. He also must pay $15,539 in restitution.
Long escaped Jan. 25 and was re-arrested Feb. 2 south of Licking as authorities had continued to look for him
Long was seen on property near Highway VV and 137, and captured a short time later by Licking police. Authorities said Long was still wearing gray pants and a brown jacket.
There were several clues he remained in the area. Long had been spotted west of Licking not far from the 1,600-bed facility. He was seen running south, authorities said. Officers quickly set up a perimeter, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol coordinated the search effort. A helicopter from Jefferson City arrived to the search area. State officers and a chopper searched the region before leaving at 11 p.m. A one point a tent was found.
According to Missouri Department of Correction records at the time, Long was serving a six-year sentence for receiving stolen property and second-degree burglary.
Long was received into Missouri Department of Corrections custody from Texas County on June 2, 2017. He had an early parole date of Sept. 14, 2019. He has previous convictions for second-degree assault, operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in injury, possession of a controlled substance, resisting/interfering with arrest, second-degree domestic assault and misdemeanor stealing.