Hailey
LANSING, Kan. – A Kansas inmate who briefly escaped from a minimum-security correctional unit in 2024 has now received a longer sentence for his unauthorized departure.
Inmate Walks Away from Minimum-Security Unit
Bradley G. Verstraete, an inmate previously serving a 102-month prison term, was assigned to a minimum-security housing unit managed by the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC).
On Sunday, April 7, 2024, Verstraete left the unit without permission, triggering an official inmate escape alert.
While he was technically still in state custody, his unapproved departure from the facility violated the terms of his confinement and prompted a swift response from local authorities.
Community Tip Leads to Swift Arrest
The following day, on Monday, April 8, a concerned citizen reported seeing a suspicious individual in the 900 block of 4H Road in Lansing, a residential area not far from the facility. Law enforcement responded promptly, and Verstraete was apprehended without incident shortly after the report.
Judge Issues Additional Sentence
Following his recapture, Verstraete appeared before a Leavenworth County judge on Friday and was sentenced to an additional 57 months in prison.
The new sentence adds nearly five more years to his original term, which had already spanned more than eight years.
The Kansas Department of Corrections confirmed that Verstraete’s actions constituted an escape under their guidelines, despite the facility’s lower security level.
Understanding Minimum-Security Custody
Minimum-security units are typically designated for inmates considered low risk, often toward the end of their sentence or those with non-violent offenses.
These units may lack the high walls and barriers of maximum-security prisons, relying instead on inmate compliance and routine checks. However, walking away from these facilities without permission still counts as an escape and carries serious legal consequences.
Bradley G. Verstraete’s unauthorized departure from a minimum-security Kansas prison unit has resulted in a significant extension of his sentence.
Thanks to a community tip, law enforcement was able to locate and detain him swiftly, reinforcing the role public vigilance plays in maintaining public safety.
As a result, Verstraete will now remain in custody for a total sentence exceeding 13 years.