KINCHELOE -- One of two inmates accused of trying to break out of prison in Chippewa County is charged with several additional crimes.
Andrew Ross, 25, is charged with carjacking, assault with intent to rob while armed and four other felonies. Ross faces a potential of life in prison on the new charges.
Ross and two inmates, Seth Privacky and Brian Davidson, are accused of carjacking a semi truck, assaulting the driver and then driving the rig through the fences of the prison on July 15. The three inmates left the semi when it got stuck and started running.
Ross and Brian Davidson were both caught. Seth Privacky was shot and killed in the incident.
The Chippewa County Prosecutor said charges against Davidson will not be filed since he is already serving life in prison without a chance of parole. He was convicted of first degree murder out of Kent County in 2003.
Privacky, 30, was convicted of killing his parents, brother, brother's girlfriend and his grandfather on November 29, 1998 in Muskegon. Privacky was a teenager at the time of the crime.
"At the time of the escape all three inmates, convicted of murdering nine people between them, were in Kinross at a security level 2. Hopefully, the Department of Corrections, which now has Davidson and Ross at a level 5, will keep them at a more appropriate security level in hte future and so confined," Chippewa County Prosecutor Brian Peppler said.
Peppler was also asked to review the shooting of Privacky and determine if any action should be taken against the correctional officer who shot and killed Privacky. Officials say he was running toward the Health Care Center located across the street from the prison in the escape attempt.
"My findings are, and I have relayed these personally to the officer, that his shooting was justified and nothing further will come from this office. In fact, I want to publicly commend the officer for putting himself in danger and handling himself professionally and as he was trained," explained Peppler. "We can only imagine how many people would have been in danger if the officer had not stopped Privacky and the other two inmates."
