Watkins v. Commonwealth

Opinion of the Court

by Chief Justice LAMBERT.

Appellant, Gary Watkins, Jr., was convicted by a Hart Circuit Court jury of theft by unlawful taking over $300, second degree escape, and of being a persistent felony offender (PFO). He was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment. He appeals as a matter of right. 1

On May 20, 2000, Appellant was an inmate in the Hart County jail, and he worked in the jail kitchen. On that day, Appellant stole a 1997 Dodge Ram truck belonging to deputy jailer Della Trulock. Inside the truck were a 9mm gun and $400 cash. Eventually, Appellant and the truck were located…