One of the prisoners who attempted an escape from Kinross Correctional Facility July 15 has been charged with carjacking, assault with intent to rob while armed, and four other felonies. Andrew Joseph Ross, 25, who was charged Tuesday, July 27, by Chippewa County Prosecutor Brian Peppler, participated in the escape attempt in which a state employee was injured and another inmate was killed.

Mr. Ross, if convicted, faces up to life in prison on the charges. He is serving an 18-year to 40-year sentence for murder.

He and two inmates, Seth T. Privacky and Brian Lee Davidson, are alleged to have carjacked a semi truck and trailer after assaulting the driver and drove the rig through the fences of the prison. The three inmates then left the truck and ran.

Mr. Privacky was shot and killed by a guard as he ran.

There will be no charges filed against Mr. Davidson because he is serving life in prison without a chance of parole following a conviction for first degree murder in Kent County in 2003.

“At the time of the escape, all three inmates, convicted of murdering nine people between them, were in Kinross at a security level two,” said Mr. Peppler in an announcement of the charges. “Hopefully, the Department of Corrections, which now has Davidson and Ross at a level five, will keep them at a more appropriate security level in the future and so confined.”

Mr. Peppler said the shooting of Mr. Privacky as he ran from the prison toward the Health Care Center across the street, was justified.

“My findings are, and I have relayed these personally to the officer, that his shooting was justified and nothing further will come from this office,” he said.

He commended the officer for his actions, adding, “We can only imagine how many people would have been in danger if the officer had not stopped Privacky and the other two inmates.”

Employees at Kinross Correctional Facility and its neighbor, Chippewa Correctional Facility, were commended by the prosecutor for their quick response to the incident and taking control of “an extremely dangerous situation.”