Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.030 (2026)

Escape in the second degree

✓ current as of May 2026

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(1) A person is guilty of escape in the second degree when he escapes from a detention facility or, being charged with or convicted of a felony, he escapes from custody. (2) Escape in the second degree is a Class D felony. Effective: January 1, 1975 History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 171, effective January 1, 1975.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 30 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: Lawton v. Commonwealth, 354 S.W.3d 565 (Ky. 2011).

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Lawton v. Commonwealth, 354 S.W.3d 565 (Ky. 2011). · cites it 13× “The Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling of the trial court, finding that Appellant had escaped from a detention facility under KRS 520.030. There is no dispute about the underlying facts.”

United States v. Lancaster, 501 F.3d 673 (6th Cir. 2007). · cites it 8× “On appeal, Lancaster argues that the district court erred in determining that his prior Kentucky state conviction for second-degree escape under Ky.Rev.Stat. § 520.030 (2006) is a “violent felony” as defined in 18 U.”

Weaver v. Commonwealth, 156 S.W.3d 270 (Ky. 2005). · cites it 8× “Pursuant to KRS 520.030, a person is guilty of escape in the second degree when he "escapes from a detention facility or, being charged with or convicted of a felony, he escapes from custody.”

Cohron v. Commonwealth, 306 S.W.3d 489 (Ky. 2010). · cites it 4× “Thus, the only question here is whether or not Appellant had been "charged with or convicted of a felony" at the time of the escape.”

United States v. Bailey, 510 F.3d 562 (6th Cir. 2007). · cites it 3× “Because of his prior convictions for drug trafficking and second-degree escape (Ky.Rev.Stat. § 520.030), the district court sentenced defendant as a career offender under the Sentencing Guidelines.”

Lackey v. Commonwealth, 468 S.W.3d 348 (Ky. 2015). · cites it 2× “KRS 520.030(1); KRS 520.010(4). . KRS 520.”

United States v. Lee, 586 F.3d 859 (11th Cir. 2009). “3d at 422 (quotation marks and citation omitted); see Ky. Rev.Stat. § 520.030. Ford had been convicted of second-degree escape under this latter provision.”

Reynolds v. Commonwealth, 113 S.W.3d 647 (Ky. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 3× “On February 12, 2001, the Carroll County grand jury indicted Reynolds on one felony count of escape in the second degree (KRS 520.030) and for being a persistent felony offender in the first degree (PFO I)(KRS 532.”

Winstead v. Commonwealth, 327 S.W.3d 479 (Ky. 2010). “See KRS 520.030(2) (classifying second-degree escape as a Class D felony); KRS 532.”

Commonwealth v. Ferrell, 17 S.W.3d 520 (Ky. 2000). “KRS 520.030. 2 . KRS 503.030: (1) Unless inconsistent with the ensuing sections of this code defining justifiable use of physical force or with some other provisions of law, conduct which would otherwise constitute an offense is justifiable when the defendant believes it to be…”

United States v. Howard, 216 F. App'x 463 (6th Cir. 2007). “In Kentucky, “[a] person is guilty of escape in the first degree when he escapes from custody or a detention facility by the use or force or threat of force against another person.” Ky.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 520.020.”

Stroud v. Commonwealth, 922 S.W.2d 382 (Ky. 1996). · cites it 2× “KRS 520.030. Stroud initialed the documents explaining the program and otherwise affixed his full signature to the document which says in part, “I understand the penalty for escape, notice of absence and loss of equipment.”

Show all 30 citing cases →

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.030(1) — 6 cases

Lawton v. Commonwealth, 354 S.W.3d 565 (Ky. 2011). “The Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling of the trial court, finding that Appellant had escaped from a detention facility under KRS 520.030. There is no dispute about the underlying facts.”

Cohron v. Commonwealth, 306 S.W.3d 489 (Ky. 2010). “Thus, the only question here is whether or not Appellant had been "charged with or convicted of a felony" at the time of the escape.”

Lackey v. Commonwealth, 468 S.W.3d 348 (Ky. 2015). “KRS 520.030(1); KRS 520.010(4). . KRS 520.”

Toby Akers v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2023).

Michael Thornton v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2019).

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.030(2) — 5 cases

Winstead v. Commonwealth, 327 S.W.3d 479 (Ky. 2010). “See KRS 520.030(2) (classifying second-degree escape as a Class D felony); KRS 532.”

Rosen v. Watson, 103 S.W.3d 25 (Ky. 2003).

Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Eric L. Gibson (Ky. 2021).

James Lang v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2022).

Mark Shannon v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. 2026).

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