By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

LANDIS — Authorities charged two Landis women with felony offenses in connection with hiding an escaped inmate. One woman was the man’s former girlfriend and the other was his aunt, officials said.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Candace Nicole Story, 25, of the 900 block of South Kimmons Street, with felony harboring an escapee or aiding certain persons. Susan Annette Rakes, 42, of the 800 block of South Kimmons Street, is charged with felony harboring an escapee or aiding certain persons.

Story was the ex-girlfriend of 22-year-old Devin Brown, who the state Department of Public Safety said escaped overnight April 27 from a minimum security facility in Polkton and wound up over 50 miles away. He was located at property in the 700 block of Rice Street. Authorities determined he’d stayed at the home of his aunt, Susan Rakes.

An arrest warrant said Rakes, who knew Brown was an escapee, allowed him to stay in her mobile home. She also told her roommate to leave the door unlocked so she and Brown could have access, a warrant said.

When officers went to Rakes’ home, they were told Brown was in a back bedroom, but he was not there, said Capt. John Sifford.

Officers found a jacket that belonged to Brown and a state K-9 searched the area for about an hour before eventually finding Brown.

Initially deputies received information Brown was at the home of Candace Story. When officials went to her home, they asked Story if she knew Brown. She said she did. Officials asked Story if she knew Brown had escaped. She said she did.

Officials asked Story if she’d seen Brown. She said she had not. She said the last time she talked to him was the day before. Authorities determined Story was untruthful and Brown had been in the area, Sifford said.

An arrest warrant said Story conspired with Rakes to hide Brown. Rakes remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $5,000 secured bond while Story has since been released under a $2,000 secured bond.