State v. Wright

Littlejohn, Justice:

Defendant William Henry Wright, while serving as a prisoner at Goodman Correctional Institute was discovered missing from the facility. He was indicted for escape. At trial he was represented by John D. Delgado, Assistant Public Defender for Richland County. In spite of counsel’s recommendation that he plead guilty and in spite of the fact that he was advised that he had no valid defense and that a trial would be futile, the defendant insisted upon trial. He was convicted and has appealed.

It was the contention of the defendant that some prisoners, upon escape, were dealt…