By Lucky Kidd
LARNED Kan. — A man who walked away from Larned State Hospital’s Sexual Predator Treatment Program June 23, 2023, entered a guilty plea Monday to aggravated escape from custody. The plea by Gary Leslie Furthmyer, 73, came one day before a jury trial was to begin in Pawnee County District Court.
Under a plea agreement a charge of violation of the offender registration act was dismissed by Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett, and parties will be free to argue a motion to depart from sentencing guidelines.
Furthmeyer was in the transition phase of the SPTP where residents are allowed additional privileges, including requirements to maintain employment and have a cell phone for location check purposes.
The night of the incident he was part of a group that had gone to Dodge City, and on return to the facility Furthmyer three his cell phone into the trash and walked away as they were unloading. He was found about 2 ½ hours later in a grove of trees near the LSH campus.
Sentencing has been set for Dec. 16.
