HOT SPRINGS -- Derrick Glenn Estell pleaded guilty to a February 2013 home invasion and to an escape attempt in May 2013 that preceded his escape from custody in July 2013, which prompted a monthlong manhunt and drew national attention.
Estell, 36, who appeared in Garland County Circuit Court, pleaded guilty June 6 to aggravated residential burglary and second-degree escape. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on each count, to run concurrently with each other but consecutively with a 32-year sentence Estell is already serving on federal charges.
As part of the plea agreement, additional charges of aggravated robbery, first-degree battery, theft of property more than $5,000, breaking or entering, possession of a firearm by certain persons, residential burglary, resisting arrest, fleeing and two counts each of commercial burglary, first-degree criminal mischief and theft of property more than $1,000 were withdrawn.
Estell had pleaded guilty Feb. 10 to second-degree escape in connection with his escape from the old Garland County jail on July 28, 2013, and he was sentenced to the maximum of 40 years in prison, to run concurrently with his federal prison sentence.
Estell will not be able to begin serving his new 20-year sentence until he completes his federal sentence. Deputy prosecutor Joe Graham said Tuesday that Estell will have to serve 85 percent, or about 28 years, of his federal sentence before he is eligible for release and then he would be transferred to the Arkansas Department of Correction to begin serving his sentence on the state charges.
Estell's accomplice in the home invasion, Larry Dewayne Hulsey, 42, of Hot Springs, pleaded guilty April 13, 2015, to a reduced charge of residential burglary for his part in the incident and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
According to the affidavit on Estell's escape, on May 21, 2013, around 8:30 a.m., Estell was in custody at the old jail and taken in handcuffs and leg shackles across the parking lot for an appearance that day in Circuit Court.
Bailiffs placed Estell and several other inmates in the jury box. The bailiffs were told one of the inmates might have a handcuff key, so they began checking them. When the bailiff got to Estell, he jumped out of his chair, ran a few steps, jumped a railing into the gallery area and ran toward the door.
Parole officer Michael Hall was in the gallery and attempted to tackle and detain Estell, but Estell broke free and ran out of the courtroom and downstairs toward the east entrance of the building.
Security officer Sgt. Roger Bairett was stationed at the door and saw Estell running toward him, but Estell struck Bairett in the face, knocking him backward into a table and onto the floor. He fled south from the courthouse across the parking lot.
A short time later, Arkansas State Police Trooper Kevin Steed, who was off duty, heard about the escape and was near the courthouse when he spotted Estell hiding under a pickup. He ordered Estell to stay there, but Estell fled again.
Steed chased Estell 150 yards until he ran into the side of a yard where he was blocked by a fence. At that point, Steed wrestled Estell to the ground and held him there until other officers arrived and assisted in taking him back into custody.
Estell escaped again two months later by jumping through the 12-by-30-inch service window in the booking area and fleeing to a waiting vehicle. Video of Estell's escape, captured by the jail's security cameras, was broadcast by national media outlets, including CNN.
Estell and his girlfriend, Tamara Lynn Upshaw, 26, of Lonsdale, who was driving the getaway vehicle, were captured in rural Jay, Fla., on Aug. 22, 2013, by officers from the Santa Rosa County sheriff 's office and the U.S. Marshals Service's fugitive task force, acting on information from Garland County sheriff's investigators.
Estell was indicted on federal charges in September 2013 involving several offenses, including carjacking, bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
State Desk on 06/17/2016