Woman in prisoner escape case seeks November release

? An attorney for the woman who helped a murderer escape from prison in a dog crate has asked that she not have to serve any further time in prison after she serves her state sentence.

In motion filed this week, assistant federal public defender Michael L. Harris asked a judge to sentence Toby Young to 1 1/2 years in prison on the federal charge of knowingly providing a firearm to a felon. But he asked that Young be credited with time she has served in state prison and the new sentence run concurrently with her state sentence.

If the judge agrees, Young would be released from prison after completing her sentence in November.

Last week, federal prosecutors asked that Young get a five-year sentence on the federal charges. She is scheduled to be sentenced next week in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan.

Young helped John M. Manard escape from Lansing Correctional Facility in February 2006 by hiding him inside a dog crate in a van she used for a dog-training program at the prison.

The two were captured nearly two weeks later in Tennessee.

Young was sentenced to 21 months in state prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting aggravated prison escape and introducing contraband into the prison. She pleaded guilty to the federal charge in March.

In asking for a five-year sentence, federal prosecutors had said Young continued to minimize her role in Manard’s escape and that she “has used stealth in order to communicate with him.”

In response, Harris said that Young “has done everything she can to accept responsibility for her conduct.”

The motion also said Young’s communication with Manard consisted of responding to a letter from Manard’s sister asking about her health.

“But that is the extent of any contact or communication with any member of Mr. Manard’s family, stealthy or otherwise, for months,” according the motion.