Inmate Jermichael Jim Wells, currently assigned to the Correctional Release Center in Newton, has absconded from his worksite in Victor, IA and has been placed on escape status. Wells’ sentence is for the following crimes: Theft 2nd Degree, Burglary 2nd Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree-Motor Vehicle, Dominion/Control of Firearm/Offensive Weapon by Felon, and Forgery. Wells was last seen at his assigned workplace, Quantum Plastics, in Victor, IA (Iowa County) at approximately 5:00 p.m. on July 19, 2023. Wells is a 25-year-old black male, height 5’11”, and weighs 157 pounds. He has tattoos on his back, chest, and right shoulder. He was placed in the Correctional Release Center on September 9, 2022. Persons with information on Wells’ whereabouts should contact local police. If citizens believe they have encountered the escapee, they should not try to apprehend him. They should leave the area and call the police immediately. The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office phone number is (319) 642-7307