Wyatt Detention Center Puts Four on Administrative Leave After Inmate's Daring Escape

CENTRAL FALLS, RI — Luke Gallant, chairman of the Wyatt Detention Center's board of directors, said today a full report about the escape of James Morales will be made public, but now is not the time to divulge any details.

Morales, 35, will be held in federal custody at an undisclosed location for the time being, investigators said at a press conference on Thursday night. He will not be returning to Wyatt Detention Center, reporters were advised.

"I think that would be off the table at this point," one official said.

However, he is expected to appear in federal court Friday in Providence, Rhode Island, to face charges connected to his escape. The arrest affidavit has been sealed, but previously WPRI reported he has been charged with escape from the Attorney General. He faces five years in prison, three years' probation and a $250,000 fine for that offense.

Morales this week was on the most wanted list in both Rhode Island and in Massachusetts as authorities stepped up the manhunt to find him.

He had a substantial head start, as authorities learned he was gone for five hours before the prison notified police he'd escaped.

Although Daniel Martin, the Wyatt Detention Center's warden, has not responded to questions about the current situation at the facility, Gallant indicated today in televised remarks that four people have been placed on administrative leave.

One is a supervisor, and the other three are corrections officers.

Gallant said their being place on leave did not necessarily mean they were at fault. He said the warden has been instructed to undertake a complete review of the escape.

He called the escape "unacceptable."

Gallant and the other board members were appointed by Central Falls Mayor James Diossa,

According to the city's website, the "Central Falls "Donald W. Wyatt" Detention Facility Corporation was created pursuant to state law. It is a quasi-public corporation governed by a five-member Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor of Central Falls.

"The Board, in turn, appoints an administrator of the corporation who is responsible for overseeing the management and overall operation of the corporation and the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility.

"The Facility operates at maximum security providing housing for up to 730 adult male and up to 40 adult female detainees and is accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA).

"During the most recent re-accreditation audit, the Facility received a 100% rating on all mandatory and non-mandatory ACA standards.

"Detainees housed within the facility are in the custody of the United States Marshals Service’s various jurisdictions including, but not limited to: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. The facility also houses detainees who are in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, United States Navy, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.

"The Mayor appoints the five (5) member board, at least three (3) of whom shall be registered voters in the city of Central Falls. The appointments are subject to approval by the city council. Directors shall be appointed for a term of five (5) years, except that all vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Mayor.

"The directors receive no compensation for the performance of their duties, but are reimbursed for their reasonable expenses. No director shall acquire any direct interest in any project or in any property included or planned to be included in any project, nor shall he or she have any interest, direct or indirect, in any proposed contract for materials or services to be furnished in connection with any project. The directors shall elect one of its directors as chairperson and another as vice-chairperson and shall also elect a secretary and a treasurer. Three (3) directors of the corporation constitutes a quorum and the vote of three (3) members is necessary for any action taken by the corporation.

The other directors are Gus Silva, Albert Gardner, Joseph R. Gonsalves, and Lisa Dinerman.

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