Court Rejects Escaped Inmate's Sentence Appeal

DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Court of Appeals has rejected a challenge over the sentence of a prison inmate from South Dakota who failed to return from his work release job and was captured in Colorado.

The court on Thursday ruled that Gregory Bakke will have to serve three years in prison for Colorado convictions for auto theft and eluding police, and will then have to serve sentences imposed by other states. Bakke said he should be allowed to serve the sentences at the same time.

Bakke left his work release job in South Dakota without authorization on Oct. 2 and failed to return to the Pennington County Corrections Center in Rapid City.

Bakke is also serving a sentence of more than five years for grand theft out of Grant County.

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