Inmate gets 5 more years for Ohio prison escape

LIMA, Ohio (AP) — A man who fled an Ohio prison with a convicted school shooter and another inmate has pleaded guilty to escape and been sentenced to five more years behind bars.

Clifford Opperud, 45, was sentenced today in Allen County court. He’s already serving time for robbery, burglary and kidnapping.

His attorney confirmed the case is resolved and didn’t have additional comment.

Authorities say Opperud, 20-year-old Chardon High School shooter T.J. Lane, and another inmate escaped a Lima prison Sept. 11 by scaling a fence in a recreation yard. They were caught within hours.

The prosecutor said Lane wasn’t charged with escape because his victims’ families didn’t want him to have an opportunity to mock them again.

The third inmate also won’t be charged. He’s already serving a life sentence.