Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County escapee found in Georgia

A Clark County jail escapee is back in custody. However, he is in Georgia.

On August 8, 2001, Cory Desmond Smith and Richard Steven McClemore climbed over an exercise wall at the Clark County Jail. The wall was covered with razor wire, yet the two still managed to escape.

McClemore was picked up shortly afterward in Garland County after he stole an Entergy truck.

Smith, however, disappeared until recently when he was arrested in Gwinette County, Ga.

Officers in Georgia arrested Smith for a misdemeanor charge of theft by receiving. When arrested, Smith presented himself as LaQuianta Desmond Berry. Officers found out differently when they ran a fingerprint check. His prints were then matched to be those of Cory Desmond Smith.

It was then discovered that Smith was wanted in Arkansas for robberies in Clark, Garland and Ouachita counties.

The Clark County robbery charge was from July when Smith apparently robbed a friend of his.

A man told police that at about 1:30 a.m. Smith and an accomplice, Razheme Gray had stolen about $400 from him. Smith apparently threatened to kill the man and took his money. However, police soon apprehended the two men a few blocks away.

Smith is suspected in Ouachita County and Garland County for armed robbery of two liquor stores.

He already had a record for aggravated robbery in 1997 and possession of a firearm by certain persons in 1999. He now faces an additional charge for escape in the second degree.

Smith will be returned to Arkansas after he settles his misdemeanor charge in Georgia.