May 19, 2007 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

More than 60 charges have been filed against three inmates in the Fayette County Prison after they attempted to escape Monday night. State police said 64 charges were filed Friday morning against the men before Magisterial District Judge Mark L. Blair.

John Michael Vanorsdale, 37, of Connellsville was charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint, using weapons for escape and false imprisonment.

Additionally, Vanorsdale – along with Jeffrey Wayne Tarpley Jr., 32, of 643 Coolspring St., Uniontown, and Jonathan Raymond Jordan, 19, also of Uniontown – were each charged with single counts of criminal conspiracy kidnapping, aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, risking a catastrophe, criminal conspiracy risking a catastrophe, criminal attempt escape, criminal conspiracy to attempt escape, riot and criminal conspiracy to start a riot. The men also face charges of criminal conspiracy unlawful restraint, simple assault, criminal conspiracy to commit simple assault, criminal conspiracy false imprisonment, tampering with fire apparatus, criminal conspiracy to tamper with fire apparatus, disorderly conduct, criminal conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct, theft, criminal conspiracy to commit theft, criminal mischief and criminal conspiracy to commit criminal mischief.

Blair set bond for each man at $250,000 straight cash.

Trooper James L. Garlick said the charges stem from a disturbance that broke out just after 10 p.m. when the three inmates decided to try and escape.

According to Garlick, the inmates hid in the shower of the prison’s E Range as the other prisoners reported to their cells for 10 p.m. lockdown.

He said after lockdown, prison trustee Bruce Balsega Jr., escorted by prison guard Tammie Popiesh, entered the shower area to refill cleaning supplies when the three inmates jumped them.

The inmates sprayed Popiesh with a fire extinguisher, took her handcuffs and then handcuffed her to a rail on the E Range catwalk, Garlick stated.

The men then tied a towel around her head and gagged her mouth with torn pieces of bedsheets, police said. At that point, seven prison guards ran to the catwalk area and freed Popiesh while trying to take the inmates back into custody.

The inmates used the fire extinguishers to break out two windows to try and escape, but were kept from leaving the building by bars on the exterior walls, Garlick said.

The inmates then sprayed the responding guards with the extinguishers and hand-to-hand combat broke out among the prisoners and the guards until the three suspects were subdued, police said.

Fayette County Court records indicate that Vanorsdale has five active cases against him, with the most recent involving charges of aggravated assault and robbery. Vanorsdale has been in and out of trouble since 1993, records show.

Jordan withdrew a guilty plea May 9 to more than a dozen charges, including four counts of robbery and several counts of criminal conspiracy, court records indicate.

Records reveal that Tarpley is scheduled for trial later this year on two charges of theft and 11 counts of criminal conspiracy.

His criminal record dates to 2000.