By Kevin Jefferies
Commerce – A Fannin County woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty to escaping from Commerce police. 41 year old Stephanie Ann Johnson Pruitt entered a guilty plea to one count of felony escape as part of a plea bargain in connection with an aggravated robbery charge from an armed hold-up in Commerce in April.
Pruitt was alleged to have used a knife to threaten a female victim before stealing money. On the escape charge, Pruitt had been arrested for possession of a controlled substance and ran from the back of a patrol car when the officer stopped in front of City Hall.
Pruitt was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The escape charge normally carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, but was upgraded due to Pruitt's prior criminal record.