Escaped convict’s court case continued
Published 5:42 pm Monday, April 13, 2009
The court case for Steven David Taylor, 43, of Columbus, who is facing escape local jail charges was continued for June 3.
Taylor was in court Wednesday facing the charge of felony escape local jail and he is also awaiting sentencing on a previous possession of a firearm by a felon conviction and being an habitual felon.
Wednesday&squo;s district court appearance was strictly for the escape local jail charge and six officers at least surrounded Taylor in the Polk County Courthouse. Judge Athena F. Brooks presided Wednesday and agreed to continue his case.
Taylor escaped the courtroom on March 11 after being found guilty the day before by a jury of the possession of a firearm by a felon. He escaped out the back door of the courtroom in the morning prior to court beginning. Taylor was captured eight days later off Fox Mountain Road when acquaintances of his called crimestoppers. Taylor&squo;s apprehension was done after a several day manhunt with Polk and outside agencies searching the county.
Taylor was said to have survived in the woods, most probably in the Holbert&squo;s Cove area of the county as well as spending some time in Henderson County.
Taylor&squo;s sentencing for the habitual felon and possession of a firearm by a felon will be done in superior court, scheduled for May 2. Prior to his escape, he was facing 14 years in prison for those charges.
Taylor is currently being held at the N.C. Department of Corrections in Marion.