Leavenworth ? The inmate captured in February after escaping from the Lansing Correctional Facility inside a dog crate has been charged in the case.

John Michael Manard, 27, is facing felony charges of aggravated escape from a state correctional facility and trafficking contraband, said Deborah Owens, spokeswoman for the Leavenworth County attorney’s office. He made his first court appearance on the charges Friday.

Manard was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder and other charges when he escaped Feb. 12, hiding in a dog crate used to transport animals for the Safe Harbor prison dog program.

Other inmates loaded the crate into a Safe Harbor van, which was driven away by Toby Young, a volunteer and president of the dog rehabilitation program.

Manard and Young were captured Feb. 24 in Tennessee after they led law enforcement on an interstate chase before their vehicle crashed. Investigators found the two had gone on a shopping spree in the days after the escape and were staying in a vacation cabin in rural Alpine, Tenn.

Young, 48, was sentenced July 12 to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting aggravated escape and trafficking contraband.

County Atty. Frank Kohl said he wanted to resolve Young’s case before charging Manard for the escape.

Manard has remained in solitary confinement since being returned to the prison.

He’s scheduled to return to court Wednesday for an appearance with a court-appointed attorney.