Sex offender escapes from custody

A convicted sex offender released into his parents’ custody for a doctor appointment escaped Wednesday and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is looking for him.

An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for 27-year-old Derrick L. Wilson, who was in custody due to a probation violation. Judge John Strohmaier granted Wilson five hours to attend a doctor appointment at Spokane Eye Clinic in the custody of his parents.

The parents later called officials to say he disappeared when he was supposed to be filling out paperwork at the clinic.

Wilson pleaded guilty to the charge of molesting a 5-year-old girl in 2007. He faced 68 months to life in prison, but was granted one year in prison and five years in the special sex offender sentencing alternative program for treatment and lifetime supervision from the Department of Corrections.

Lincoln County Prosecutor Jeff Barkdull said Wilson was recently discovered violating his supervision conditions, including having sexual contact with a minor, frequenting areas where minors might be present, and drinking. He was arrested Sept. 25 for that probation violation in Spokane County.

Barkdull submitted a motion to revoke Wilson’s participation in the treatment and supervision program; there’s a hearing scheduled Oct. 25 to reimpose his prison sentence.

A representative from Strohmaier’s office declined to comment on the case.

Wilson is due in court in Spokane on Tuesday for malicious mischief and criminal trespass charges stemming from incidents in April and May that occurred downtown.

Lincoln County Undersheriff Kelly Watkins believes Wilson may still be in Spokane, and authorities are asking that anyone with information on his whereabouts call Watkins at (509) 725-3501.