CARTERVILLE, Ill. (WJPF) – A Williamson County man is facing new charges after police say he failed to return to jail while out on a work release program.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office says John Corliss, 34, had been leaving jail each day to go to work, returning at night to serve his sentence for non-violent crimes.

On January 6, the sheriff’s office says Corliss was several hours late returning to jail. When he was reached by phone, Corliss told police he wasn’t coming back to jail. He was found later that night in the parking lot of the Merchant’s Walk shopping Center (209 West Commercial Drive) in Carterville.  Police say in the car with Corliss were a half empty bottle of alcohol, a controlled substance, and drug paraphernalia that had traces of methamphetamine.  

After a brief struggle with police, John Corliss was taken to jail.  He faces new charges of failure to report to a penal institution, possession of a controlled substance, resisting a peace officer, and illegal transportation of alcohol.  His work release privileges were revoked.