Escaped Inmate Sentenced to Twelve Years for Stealing Truck

DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the Career Gang Unit obtained a twelve-year sentence against an inmate who escaped from Monroe County, stole a truck, and was apprehended in Knoxville.  Ricky Lynn Burnette, 54, was convicted of Theft over $2,500.  Judge Steve Sword ordered Burnette to serve twelve years in the Tennessee Department of Correction.

In a one-day trial in August, Assistant District Attorneys TaKisha Fitzgerald and Molly Martin explained to the jury that on November 18, 2022, Burnette escaped from a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office inmate work crew and stole a truck belonging to a maintenance employee.  The following day, Ofc. Randall Williams and other officers with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office received information about a stolen vehicle on Chapman Highway that could be occupied by Burnette.  Officers located the vehicle at Dollar General and took Burnette into custody. 

“With this latest conviction, this career criminal is back in custody where he belongs,” said DA Allen.

Burnette has fifteen prior felony convictions out of Monroe, Loudon, Hamilton, and Knox Counties for Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Theft, Escape, and Evading Arrest.  Because he is classified as a Career Offender, the only possible sentence in this case under Tennessee law was twelve years to serve in prison.  Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Sheri Burkett aided in the prosecution of this case.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.