Staff report

A federal prisoner in Jefferson County has been charged with escape and possession of marijuana after sheriff’s investigators and federal officers arrested him on private land behind the federal prison.

In an issued news release, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Capt. Crystal Holmes said Joshua Hansen of Dallas, 25, who was in custody for a federal narcotics violations in Dallas, was booked into Jefferson County Jail on Wednesday evening on the new charges.

The release said authorities received information that inmates were escaping from behind the Federal Correctional Complex at 5830 Knauth Road — it includes low-, medium- and maximum-security sections — and crossing on to private ranchland. There, the information revealed, they were picking up contraband and taking it back into the federal facility.

The release said Jefferson County narcotics investigators and federal marshals set up surveillance around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday and saw a vehicle stop on the private property.

Almost two hours later, the news release said, an inmate later identified as Hansen ran from the federal facility, picked up a duffle bag containing contraband and ran back toward the prison. Deputies then made the arrest.

Authorities said the bag contained three bottles of brandy, a bottle of whiskey, bags of tobacco, packaged snacks, fruit and home-cooked food. Hidden inside some of bag’s contents was 32.9 grams of marijuana, Holmes said.

Hansen was booked into Jefferson County Jail and had a federal hold on him Thursday.

The investigation was continuing, the Holmes said.