Prisoner convicted of aggravated assault escapes from Neshoba jail
By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
Dec. 5, 2000
PHILADELPHIA The search continues this morning for Chris "Pee Wee" Cleveland. Convicted of aggravated assault in connection with the April shooting of Cleveland McCall, 18-year-old Cleveland escaped Monday night from the Neshoba County jail.
Cleveland was convicted Monday afternoon, and was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday by Circuit Judge Marcus Gordon.
Cleveland escaped between 7:30 and 7:45 p.m.
Cleveland was convicted of the April 19 shooting of Cleveland McCall the primary witness against Chris Cleveland's uncle, Trellis Windham, in a March drug trial. Windham, a former Newton County deputy, was found guilty of accessory before the fact in the sale of cocaine, sentenced to 25 years and five years probation and fined $10,000.
After the shooting, authorities searched for Cleveland for three months. Union police arrested him at his mother's home in Union on July 19.
Anyone with information about Cleveland's whereabouts should contact the Newton County Sheriff's Department at 635-2101.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at sblackmon@meridianstar.com.