Inmate Who Attempted To Escape Is Identified As Joel Elliott

The inmate who tried to escape from the Natrona County Detention Center during the snow storm early Tuesday morning was identified as Joel Elliott before his sentencing hearing in federal court on Friday.

"This incident is still under investigation," Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Healy III told U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl.

However, Elliott's attorney Keith Nachbar responded, "all we have are allegations."

The attempt happened in a secure location of the jail, and that secure location was never breached, Natrona County Sheriff's Sgt. Aaron Shatto said.

While the public was not in danger, the Sheriff's Office declined to release the inmate's name on Tuesday. On Friday, Shatto confirmed the inmate was Elliott.

Because Elliott was being held by the U.S. Marshal's Service at the jail, another federal charge may be pending against him, Healy said.

The attempted escape was figured into the sentencing on Friday, which amounted to a 37-year prison term and an order to pay $940,000 in restitution for the arson of the Sheridan County Attorney's Office.

Shatto said the Sheriff's Office continues to investigate Elliott's attempted escape.

The U.S. Marshal's Service also is investigating and it may have ultimate responsibility for the case, Shatto said.