Vernon Man Convicted In Stafford Pawn Shop Caper Pleads In Escape Case

BLOOMFIELD, CT — A former Vernon man who was convicted in federal court on gun charges related to a theft at a Stafford pawn shop is facing more prison time after escaping from a halfway house, a federal prosecutor said.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that Jonathan McEwan, a 34-year-old former Vernon resident, entered a guilty plea Tuesday in New Haven federal court to "escaping from the custody of the attorney general."

According to court documents and statements made in court, on Feb. 14, 2022, McEwen was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 42 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. On Aug. 1, 2023, McEwen was transferred from a federal prison in Berlin, NH, to the Drapelick Center, a "residential re-entry center," also known as a halfway house, in Bloomfield, to complete his sentence, according to case records.

On Nov. 27, McEwen was authorized to leave the halfway house to attend a state court hearing in Manchester, Avery said.

He failed to return to the halfway house as required, Avery said.

On Dec. 6, 2023, McEwen was arrested by Connecticut State Police and Hartford police on state charges unrelated to his escape, Avery said.

He has been detained since his arrest and was transferred into federal custody on Jan. 26 of this year, Avery said.

At sentencing, McEwen faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

In the fall of 2019, McEwan became the third person arrested in a stolen gun case, according to a state police report.

On Sept. 15 of that year, officers from the Stafford Resident Trooper’s Office were dispatched to the Simon Says Pawn Shop at 44 West Stafford Road for the report of a burglary. Troopers discovered that seven handguns had been taken from the establishment.

An investigation involving state, municipal and federal authorities ensued and several warrants were secured, state police said. In November, McEwen, was served one of the warrants and charged with 16 felonies, according to police reports.

Two days after the burglary, McEwan was one of two men charged in Vernon for antics related to the Simon Says caper, records show.

Police said they received a tip from an informant that two men — one being McEwan — may have a stolen gun at a West Main Street apartment, according to police reports. As police encountered both men, they fled and as McEwan was being chased down, he appeared to throw something, according to reports.

A silver Smith & Wesson pistol was later recovered, a report indicates. He also tried to discard a capped hypodermic needle, later recovered in his pocket, according to police reports.

The gun was reported stolen from Simon Says, according to police reports.