Deputy Accused In Prison Escape Case Claims Gun Threat

DENVER (CBS4) - The Denver sheriff's deputy accused of helping a dangerous inmate break out of the Denver City Jail denies he did it for money, saying instead he was physically threatened, leading to the jail escape.

"To the extent that Deputy Andrews had any involvment in Felix Trujillo's escape, his actions were compelled by threats to his life or his family's life," said Donald Sisson, the attorney representing Deputy Matthew Andrews. Sisson spoke to CBS4 Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities accuse Andrews, 36, of providing to inmate Felix Trujillo a sheriff's jacket, pants, hat and utility belt, allowing the prisoner to masquerade as a deputy and walk out of the city jail at approximately 7 p.m. Sunday. Jail administrators say it was the first escape from Denver's new city jail.

Sources have told CBS4 that from there the deputy drove Trujillo to an area north of Denver and dropped him off. Trujillo, who has a lengthy criminal record, has been at large ever since.

Authorities characterize Trujillo as extremely dangerous. Following the escape, sources say Andrews confessed what he had done to superior officers, although he refused to speak to Denver police investigators.

In his Tuesday statement, Sisson said, "At no time was there ever an agreement to assist Felix Trujillo in his escape in exchange for money. On Saturday, a driver pulled up alongside him (Andrews) and aimed a gun at him telling him that he needed to get Trujillo out of jail or his life or his family's life would be in jeopardy."

Asked where the incident took place, Sisson said he could not comment on that nor could he comment on whether the deputy had filed any sort of police report about the alleged incident.

Andrews has been with the Denver Sheriff's Department for two years but served as a prison guard for the Colorado Department of Corrections from 2007 through 2011.

He is out of jail on $10,000 bond but is due back in court April 22.

- Written by Brian Maass for CBSDenver.com