Convicted felon walks away from work release in Hart Co. Second escape in region since Thursday.

jason-cotton
jason-cotton

A convicted felon being held in the Hart County Jail has walked away from work release, the second such occurrence in the region since Thursday.

Kentucky State Police is looking for 34-year-old Jason L. Cotton, who was serving time after being convicted in Warren County in 2020 for third-degree burglary, first-degree bail jumping, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and first-degree criminal mischief, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

Cotton, police said, walked away from work release on Monday near Memorial Elementary School in the 1400 block of North Jackson Highway (Hwy 31-E) in the Hardyville area.

He stands five feet, eight inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. Cotton has brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing black shorts and a white shirt.

Anyone with information regarding Cotton’s whereabouts is asked to contact Kentucky State Police at 270-782-2010.

On Thursday, 41-year-old Charles A. Woodward, of Madisonville, “escaped custody from a work release program” at Madisonville Tire and Retreading at 48 Federal Street in Madisonville.

Woodward, according to police, was last seen Thursday afternoon at approximately 3:00. He was wearing a gray Madisonville Tire and Retreading uniform, gray pants and a white undershirt.

Woodward, whose arrest history is lengthy, was serving time at the Hopkins County Detention Center after being convicted of two counts of burglary and three counts of theft by unlawful take, police said.

Woodward stands six feet, one inch tall and weighs approximately 145 pounds. He has brown eyes, brown hair and multiple tattoos on both arms.

Anyone with information on Woodward’s whereabouts is asked to contact Kentucky State Police at 270-676-3313.

Charles A. Woodward

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com