Man Who Allegedly Had Sex With A Horse Escapes Jail, Caught After 26 Minutes

A man in La Plata County, Colorado, who was arrested in June on suspicion of having sex with a horse, escaped from jail earlier this week — only to be recaptured by authorities nearly half an hour after he was reported missing, police said.

Jonah Barrett-Lesko, 25, was arrested in the Animas River near Santa Rita Park shortly past 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, local newspaper The Durango Herald reported, citing Durango Police Department spokesman Ray Shupe.

Authorities learned of Barrett-Lesko's escape from La Plata County Jail at 1:25 p.m. when someone reported seeing a man in a jail-issued jumpsuit running near an Office Depot, Shupe said.

Durango police chief Bob Brammer happened to be driving in the area and noticed Barrett-Lesko, who had allegedly removed his jumpsuit and was running on the west side of the river in his boxer shorts.

"That’s what really attracted my attention to him because you don’t see half-naked people running through the woods in their boxer shorts," Brammer was quoted as saying.

Brammer and another officer allegedly pulled over and pursued Barrett-Lesko. Both Brammer and Barrett-Lesko crossed the river multiple times before the latter surrendered, according to police.

"They ran through the river a couple of times, and then out in the middle of the river, and they had enough officers down there that surrounded him," Shupe said.

Barrett-Lesko was then arrested nearly a mile away from La Plata County Jail. He had been loose for about 25 minutes from the time someone reported him to the time he was apprehended.

Police claimed Barrett-Lesko was alone in the prison's old rec yard when he appeared to have escaped through a small hole in the upper fenced-in area.

"There’s a video of him going up the wall, and then using his feet on one side and back on the other side," Lt. Pat Downs of the La Plata County Sheriff's Office said.

Barrett-Lesko was arrested in June after he was caught on camera allegedly having sex with a horse at the La Plata County fairgrounds in the middle of the night on June 17. He was released on bail but was later arrested again on suspicion of several burglaries, which included stealing six bicycles worth $13,000, breaking into a parked car and shoplifting from stores.

After pleading guilty to felony burglary and possession of burglary tools on Aug. 13, Barrett-Lesko was able to post bail again while awaiting his sentencing this Friday. He was, however, arrested last Friday on suspicion of motor vehicle theft, police said.

Barrett-Lesko is now expected to be charged with felony escape over the recent incident.