UPDATED: Williamsburg man captured shortly after escaping from Whitley Jail

A man who escaped from the Whitley County Jail over the weekend took advantage of distracted guards and an inexperienced control room operator to make his break for freedom, says Whitley County Jail Ken Mobley.

Jail officials noticed that Jason Harmon, 30, of 660 Hwy. 1064 in Williamsburg, was missing from the jail at about 6:00 p.m. Saturday – during or right after visitation time for inmates. Harmon was in the jail awaiting trial for first-degree criminal trespassing charges. He was returned to the jail before midnight Saturday.

According to Mobley, with the help of Corbin Police, Harmon was apprehended without incident at a residence on Barton Mill Road in Corbin. Authorities say they tracked a call he made to his girlfriend from the home.

"I don’t know how he got to Corbin," Mobley said. "He told his uncle that he got bonded out and that everything was OK. They didn’t know he escaped."

Harmon was charged with second-degree escape, a felony offense. He said neither Harmon’s uncle nor any other relatives will face criminal charges for aiding him after he escaped since they did not know he was a fugitive.

So just how did he get out of the jail?

Mobley said Harmon most likely simply walked out of an open door during visitation at the jail. He said one of the guards was in the lobby dealing with other prisoners and visitors and was distracted when the control room operator left a door open inadvertently. Harmon slipped out during the confusion.

Just after he was noticed missing, police agencies in Knox, Whitley and Laurel Counties were alerted to be on the lookout for Harmon.