PAWNEE COUNTY—A third accomplice arrested in connection with the escape of John Freeman Colt from the sex offender treatment program at the Larned State Hospital made her first court appearance Monday.
Sydni Eileen Hartman, 29, is charged with Obstructing in the Apprehension or Prosecution of a Registered Sex Offender; Traffic in Contraband in a Care and Treatment Facility while employed by the Kansas Dept. for Aging and Disability Services and Conspiracy to commit Aggravated Escape from the Sexual Predator Treatment Program, ccording to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.
The other two accomplices in the escape identified as Rachel Rena Perez, 50, Larned, and Liliana Guadalupe Houser, 45 now of Garden City, were employed by Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services leading up to the time of the escape.
Perez is charged with a 15 count Felony Criminal Complaint. Houser is charged with a 13 count Felony Criminal Complaint, according to the Pawnee Co. Attorney's office.
John Freeman Colt, 42, was sentenced on Dec. 14, 2001, to five years in state prison for aggravated sexual battery, attempted rape, aggravated burglary, and four counts of aggravated battery against law enforcement. He was required to register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his life.
After his criminal sentence was completed, the State of Kansas courts deemed him a Sexually Violent Predator at high risk to commit a future sex offense and too dangerous to be released. He was indefinitely civilly committed and sent to the Larned State Hospital’s Sexual Predator Treatment Program in 2007, where he has resided until the escape.
Investigators believe Colt planned his escape several months in advance, obtaining a replica of a staff ID badge and dress clothes. The morning of his escape he shaved off his long hair and beard. He put blankets under his bed covers making it appear he was still in bed sleeping. He was then able to convince a new staff worker (that he targeted) that he was in fact a new doctor and needed help finding his way out. Posing as a doctor, Colt was able to make his way past five secured doors and ultimately outside the gates.
Several hours passed before staff noticed he was missing and alerted the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office.
After escaping, Colt received a ride from a local farmer into Larned, where he was last seen leaving a hardware store on a motorcycle he’d purchased prior to his escape with the help of an accomplice. U.S. Marshals arrested him in Wayne County Utah on Sept. 27.
A Preliminary Hearings for Hartman has been scheduled for November 1, 2021. She remains jailed on a 75,000 bond, according to the county attorney.