Sister who helped inmate escape sentenced to jail
WAYNESBURG – Vanessa Hanlan, who was convicted last month of conspiring with her brother to help him escape Greene County jail in December, was sentenced Wednesday to serve six-to-23 months in jail.
In his sentencing order, Greene County Judge Lou Dayich wrote he understood Hanlan had no criminal history and she is considered the “caregiver” for her family, but her role in helping Waylon Hanlan plan his Dec. 27 escape from the county jail and then providing him with clothing afterward were too serious for her not to receive jail time.
Dayich wrote he was “aware of the temptation to help a family member,” but the coded phone messages between Hanlan and her brother, offering to pick him up following his escape, was “not a crime society can tolerate.”
Vanessa Hanlan, 24, of Dilliner, was convicted by a Greene County jury during her trial Sept. 22 on two counts of hindering apprehension and criminal conspiracy for providing aid to Hanlan following escape. She was given credit for the 92 days she already served following her arrest, meaning she could be released as early as three months.
Dayich also sentenced her to two years probation following her release and ordered to serve 200 hours of community service. The community service portion of the sentence would be retracted if Hanlan pursues and receives her General Equivalency Diploma while serving time in jail.
Prosecutors said Hanlan planned to pick her brother up near the prison after he cut through a vinyl wall in jail’s minimum security G-block and climbed a perimeter fence to escape. She left in her car before they could meet up at a nearby parking lot, investigators said, so Waylon Hanlan stole an all-terrain vehicle and drove it to the family’s home at 859 Bald Hill Road in Dunkard Township. There, police said, she gave him car keys and new clothes so he could change out of his prison attire.
Waylon Hanlan was arrested two days later and Vanessa, along with their two brothers, Shane and Clinton, were charged with assisting him during his escape. Waylon Hanlan pleaded guilty in April to escaping from the jail.