County inmate escapes during medical furlough

A convicted drug trafficker is on the run after failing to return to custody following a court-approved medical furlough, according to the district attorney’s office.

District Attorney Matthew Chandler said an arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for Jonathon Shane May, 32, who failed to return to the Curry County Detention Center after going to the dentist for a tooth extraction.

May fled in a Ford Bronco, which was found at the Clovis Apartments, according to a press release from the district attorney.

Judge Stephen Quinn, who sentenced May on Tuesday to five years in prison, approved the prisoner’s request to be taken by his mother to the dentist’s office, Chandler said.

Quinn could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

May was to serve his prison sentence in Los Lunas.

Chandler said inmates have a right to request a medical furlough, but a judge must approve any request and set terms.

May was arrested for trafficking methamphetamine in October.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of May is asked to call Curry County Crime Stoppers at 763-7000.