Passaic County Man Escapes From South Jersey Prison

A Passaic County man escaped from a minimum security prison in South Jersey this week, just a few weeks before he was eligible for parole, the state Department of Corrections said.

Arthur Buckel, 38, of Clifton, had been incarcerated at a satellite unit of the Bayside State Prison in Hammonton. Authorities discovered he was missing during a 6 a.m. head count Tuesday, said spokesman Matt Schuman.

Buckel had been a sanitation worker at the prison, Schuman said.

Authorities are investigating how Buckel escaped. He could face an additional three to five years in prison due to the escape, Schuman said.

Buckel was serving a sentence for a burglary charge from Union County, Schuman said.

While in prison, he was convicted on burglary, aggravated assault, drug possession, and receiving stolen property charges out of Passaic County, Schuman said.

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Arthur Buckel, 38 — State Department of Corrections