MATAGORDA COUNTY, Texas – An inmate who escaped custody in Brazoria County over the weekend with his mother’s help was captured in Matagorda County.
Robert Yancy Jr., 39, is serving life without parole after his 2022 conviction of sexual abuse of a child in Victoria County. He was captured on Monday at around 8:05 a.m. Yancy was transported to Brazoria County Jail for magistration on felony escape charges and is being held on a $5 million bond.
Yancy escaped from the Clemens Unit at around 3:38 p.m. Sunday, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He was reportedly found at a park in Matagorda County.
Lt. James Orr with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office said Yancy approached a man fishing at the FM 521 River Park trying to use his cellphone.
“[The man fishing] didn’t see any vehicles and asked him if he could use his cellphone and the guy told him that he didn’t have service,” Lt. Orr said. “And when Yancy walked away is when he called the sheriff’s office to inform us that he looked like the guy that had escaped. He wasn’t for sure, but he looked like him.”
Orr said deputies got to the park within minutes, questioned Yancy, confirmed his identity and then arrested him.
“He didn’t run, he didn’t have any weapons on him or that nature,” said Lt. Orr. “He did admit that he was Robert D. Yancy, so he was taken into custody.”
Authorities said shortly after he escaped on Sunday, Yancy was seen in a car with his mother, Leonor Priestle.
KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun discovered that Priestle was a corrections officer for TDCJ over a decade ago, however, she never worked at the Clemens Unit where Yancy escaped from. A TDCJ spokesperson said they believe Yancy wore a black sweater his mom brought into the prison during visitation.
“Yancy was found with an ID that we believed he presented when leaving the unit,” the spokesperson said.
Priestle was charged with permit/facilitate an escape and her significant other, Russell Williams, was charged with criminal intent to escape.
BCSO, in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies, coordinated with the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office, Ganado Police Department, Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office, the US Marshals, Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Brazoria County District Attorney’s office, and other law enforcement agencies to demonstrate a comprehensive response.
“We appreciate the collaboration among law enforcement agencies and the swift actions taken by our deputies, along with many other law enforcement officers, resulting in the recapture of this inmate in less than 24 hours. The successful resolution of this case is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of all involved parties,” BCSO said in a news release.
During the search, the vehicle he was believed to be in was also located.
Read TDCJ’s full statement on Yancy’s arrest below:
“Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) inmate Robert Yancy, Jr. (#02400500) was captured on Monday, December 18 at 8:05 a.m. in Matagorda County. Yancy will face felony escape charges. The Office of Inspector General arrested two other individuals in Victoria, Texas who were believed to be involved in his escape. Leonor Priestle, his mother, was charged with Permit/Facilitate an Escape and Russell Williams was charged with Criminal Intent to Escape.TDCJ thanks the local and state law enforcement agencies and the Office of Inspector General who assisted in the search and the arrests.”