U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Two Escapees From VOA Halfway House

Mansfield, OH – Early this morning members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Richland County Division and Officers from the Mansfield Police Department arrested Shawn Kouns, age 39, in an apartment on

South Home Road

in Mansfield. Yesterday morning, members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Richland County Division and Officers from the Marion Police Department arrested Shawn Stansberry, age 22, at a residence in the 500 block of

Davids Street

in Marion, Ohio.

Both Kouns and Stansberry were charged with felony escape after walking away from the Mansfield Volunteers of America (VOA) Halfway House on March 2, 2011. Kouns and Stansberry were both finishing out their state sentences at VOA after being placed there by the Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Kouns is also facing a sex offender registration violation.

Acting Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Deserto stated, “I applaud the work of all the officers involved in these investigations and arrests. The partnerships of all agencies involved is what led to the successful apprehension of both of these escapees.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED. Callers may remain anonymous and a cash reward may be available. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force - Richland County Division is composed of the following federal, state and local law enforcement agencies: Ashland Police Department, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland Municipal Probation, Bellville Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Butler Police Department, Crestline Police Department, Galion Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Loudonville Police Department, Mansfield Municipal Probation, Mansfield Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ontario Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Richland County Probation, Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.