JOHN BEASTON
Currently at Butler (aka RMC, NFRC)
Injured inmate joined in bold 1998 escape
37-year-old staged prison breakout in Miami-Dade County
http://www.news-press.com/news/local_state/030619prisonermain.html
By MIKE HOYEM and SAM COOK
An inmate injured in the June 11 escape attempt at Charlotte Correctional Institution once drove a semitrailer cab through the fences of another prison to bust out a friend's son.John Beaston, 37, made headlines on April 11, 1998, when he and Sandra Sigler staged a spectacular breakout at Everglades Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade County to free Jay Junior Sigler.
Beaston drove a stolen semitrailer cab and smashed down four 9-foot security fences.
Once inside, he pulled out a shotgun, started firing and threw a firearm to Jay Sigler, 36, who was in the prison's recreation yard.
The pair then fled in an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme driven by Sandra Sigler.
Sigler's escape was short-lived, however. He was caught the next day after his car collided with another motorist in Fort Lauderdale as he tried to flee police.
The other motorist was killed and Sigler is now serving a 30-year prison sentence.
Sandra Sigler, 63, served a year in jail for her role in the escape and avoided serving more time by testifying against her son.
Beaston was sentenced to 10 years for grand theft auto, aiding an escape, conspiracy to commit an escape and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He's not scheduled to be released until June 13, 2007.
The escape attempt at Charlotte Correctional Institution left Correctional Officer Darla K. Lathrem, 38, dead and two inmates seriously injured.
Inmate Charles Fuston, 36, died of his injuries Friday at Lee Memorial Hospital.
An official at the state corrections department's reception and medical center in Lake Butler confirmed Wednesday that Beaston was transferred there on June 15 from Charlotte Correctional Institution.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is
investigating Lathrem's death and the escape attempt, has refused to identify some of the inmates involved, including Beaston.But Pastor Rossi Borgia of Faith Walkers Ministries in east Fort Myers administered last rites to Fuston and says Beaston was in the same hospital room at the time.
"His name and department of corrections number were written on the board," Borgia said. "He kept coughing and moaning, and that's about it. A correctional officer went in once to see him. There was tight security. The position I'm in, I couldn't do anything for him."
Lee Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Karen Krieger refused to discuss Beaston, saying, "I have no information."
Rumors have circulated since the escape attempt that Jay Sigler also may have been involved. But according to a spokesman for the state corrections department, he has been at Florida State Prison in Raiford since Dec. 11, 2002.
Steve Emerson, who heads the FDLE's Fort Myers office, reiterated Wednesday the agency is not releasing some of the inmates' names.
"What we're trying to do is make a case," Emerson said. "We're still trying to take statements. We don't want to rush, yet we want to do the victims the best possible job. We're not going to be the source until we are able to file charges."
December 2nd, 2003: Kay Lee, I'm a friend of a couple in New York who gave me your address and name and told me to write you.
I've been through a lot. I'm a welder and I do all the welding for the CM camps they're doing. I did Okeechobee CI. Then I went to Charlotte CI, where I was welding and building all the CM Rec Pens and welding lockers in dorms that were closed at night. I was working six days a week from 7am to 11pm. But on June 11th, 2003, I was hit in the head by one of the three inmates who are here pending outside charges on the death of a lady correctional officer.
I was in the hospital until the first week of July. I had surgery the night I was knocked out and beat almost to death. My work partner was beaten too. He died in the hospital four days after the officer's death. When I woke up in the hospital, I was told I almost died and that my work partner was dying and that the officer was killed.
Cops came to ask me questions two times but I told them I don't know what happened and I did not have nothing to do with what those guys did. I don't even remember being knocked out or beaten by those guys.
I was told by the prison that I was going to get outside charges. I told them I was a victim, that I did not do anything wrong nor know those guys were going to do all that stuff. All I know is that they tried to kill me.
I haven't heard anything since I've been here about outside charges. The other three inmates have been seen a bunch of times by FDLE and cops. They were told they were getting outside charges and are facing the death penalty.
I was taken to Lake Butler and put in lockup when I got out of the hospital. I stayed there until I was sent to FSP, Florida State Prison, where I was put on Maximum Management for what happened on September 11th. I was put on CM-1 for two past escape charges they are using, which I've done the time on one and I'm still doing my time on the other.
So, they put me on CM-1 for assaulting a correctional officer during the escape attempt at Charlotte CI. Recommendation was "due to subject meeting the criteria for CM1 Placement as defined in Ch.33.601.800(2)(a)" when I did NOT assault anyone! I was assualted by those inmates and almost killed!
They asked me once if I wanted to press charges against those guys, but I said, "How can I when I don't know who did it to me? I would like to press charges now, if I am still allowed.
So, I'm still on Maximum Management in Q-Wing at FSP where I don't get phone calls except legal calls from a lawyer, but I don't have any money to get a lawyer. The other guys I heard all have lawyers and they don't have any money (I know two of them don't). They haven't been charged yet, but they have been being told what's going on with the case. I haven't heard anything, so I don't even know if I'm pending outside charges or not. I'm hoping not, because I didnt do anything at all! I shouldn't even be here in this Maximum Management and on CM1. I was a victim of the crime. I should still be on a compound in open-population, not in lockup.
So, what do you think? You can come see me if you call and make an appointment I guess. You can get it so I can call you if you need to talk to me about this. I don't have your phone number so you would have to make an appointment for me to call you collect.
I'm allowed to have penpals write me but I can't get anything that says penpals on it. I wish I did have some penpals, but everybody stopped writing me. I'm 37 years old, birthday is 5-6-66. I get out in 2007. I'm 6'1", 195 pounds, brown eyes and bold head. I have lots of tattoos on my neck, entire back, both arms and legs are covered. I love tattoos and I enjoy getting them.
How are your holidays going? Mine sucks. They don't feed us sh*t for Thanksgiving any more or for Christmas. This camp is bad. I'm in Maximum Management so I can only get religious books sent from a book store or religious store. I wish I had something to read. I'm Catholic. I lve reading religious books and I love writing to people. So, if you know people you can give my name and address to, tell them I'm looking for a penfriend. I can't do calls from here. Thank you.
Merry Christmas
John Beaston
DC# B-965011 Wing Q1201(.5? .s?)
Florida State Prison
Raiford, Florida 32026-1000
JOHN BEASTON'S DOC HISTORY
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Aliases: JOHN BEASTON JOHN DOUGLAS BEASTON DAVID SMITH
Current Prison Sentence History: Offense Date Offense Sentence Date County Case No. Prison Sentence Length 04/10/1998 GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE 06/17/1999 MIAMI-DADE 9812008 10Y 0M 0D 04/11/1998 FELON POS.FIREARM/CON.WEAPON 06/17/1999 MIAMI-DADE 9812008 10Y 0M 0D 04/11/1998 AIDS ESCAPE 06/17/1999 MIAMI-DADE 9812008 10Y 0M 0D 04/11/1998 BURGLARY ASSAULT ANY PERSON 06/17/1999 MIAMI-DADE 9812008 10Y 0M 0D 04/11/1998 ESCAPE(CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT) 06/17/1999 MIAMI-DADE 9812008 10Y 0M 0D
Prior Prison History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of incarceration with the Florida Dept.of Corrections since January of 1983) Offense Date Offense Sentence Date County Case No. Prison Sentence Length 12/18/1993 TRAFFIC IN STOLEN PROPERTY 10/14/1994 BROWARD 9403192 1Y 4M 0D 04/14/1994 COCAINE - POSSESSION 10/14/1994 BROWARD 9406367 1Y 4M 0D 06/15/1994 COCAINE - POSSESSION 10/14/1994 BROWARD 9410783 1Y 4M 0D 05/19/1995 ESCAPE 07/27/1995 BROWARD 9509734 1Y 0M 1D
Prior Community Supervision History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of community supervision with the Florida Dept.of Corrections since January of 1983) Offense Date Offense Sentence Date County Case No. Community Supervision Length 12/01/1993 TRAFFIC IN STOLEN PROPERTY 04/25/1994 BROWARD 9403192 2Y 0M 0D 12/01/1993 TRAFFIC IN STOLEN PROPERTY 07/01/1994 BROWARD 9403192 2Y 0M 0D 04/14/1994 COCAINE - POSSESSION 04/25/1994 BROWARD 9406367 2Y 0M 0D 04/14/1994 ATMPT.CAP.TRAFF-COC./HER. 04/25/1994 BROWARD 9406367 1Y 0M 0D 04/14/1994 COCAINE - POSSESSION 07/01/1994 BROWARD 9406367 2Y 0M 0D 06/16/1994 COCAINE - POSSESSION 07/01/1994 BROWARD 9410783 2Y 0M 0D
