Two 19-year-old Mobile men were arrested in Sunday’s predawn hours after they were discovered inside a vehicle parked near William C. Holman Correctional Facility, just outside Atmore.
According to a press release issued by Alabama Department of Corrections officials, the two were taken into custody shortly after 2:30 a.m., after prison security personnel reported a suspicious vehicle parked near the prison.
Authorities approached the vehicle and questioned the suspects, Dechane LaAnthony Burpo and Bacha Nichole Harkless. After questioning, the two were arrested and charged with criminal trespassing.
Burpo was also charged with possession of marijuana after an undisclosed quantity of the illegal weed was reportedly discovered inside the vehicle. Apparently, no contraband was thrown over the fence or otherwise introduced into the state prison.
The suspects were processed into the Escambia County Detention Center and were later released on a signature bond.
The incident is still under investigation by detectives with the Department of Corrections, and no further information was available by Tuesday’s press deadline.
Pictured at top, Burpo and Harkless