Authorities are searching for an inmate identified as Ronald Krause, who local officials say is from Las Vegas, after he walked away from the Nevada Department of Corrections’ Pioche Conservation Camp on Saturday. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office put the small town on alert the next day, urging residents in and around Pioche to stay sharp and report anything suspicious as officials warn Krause may be traveling toward the Las Vegas area.
Authorities Issue Public Safety Alert
In a public notice on the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post, officials said Krause walked away from the Pioche Conservation Camp on Saturday and listed him as being from Las Vegas. The alert asks anyone with information to call 911, contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 775-962-5151, or reach the Nevada Department of Corrections at 775-877-3284.
What Pioche Conservation Camp Does
The Pioche Conservation Camp is a minimum-security NDOC facility that organizes wildland firefighting crews and community projects across rural Lincoln County, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections. The NDOC facility page lists the camp’s location and staffing and notes it houses roughly 196 men in dormitory-style living.
Walkaways And Past Recaptures
The Nevada Department of Corrections keeps a public roster of escapees and walk-away offenders and routinely works with local law enforcement when someone goes missing, per the NDOC list of walkaways. Past walkaways from Pioche have frequently ended quickly: a 2017 case covered by KOLO involved an inmate who was taken back into custody about a day after he left the camp.
How To Report Tips
Officials emphasize that members of the public should not approach anyone they believe may have walked away from custody and instead should call 911 immediately for any active sightings. For non-emergency information or tips, the sheriff’s Facebook post directs callers to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 775-962-5151 and the Nevada Department of Corrections at 775-877-3284.
What Walkaways Could Face If Caught
When offenders are recaptured, NDOC and local authorities often move them into higher-security facilities and may pursue additional charges, according to past coverage. Prior reporting on Pioche walkaways shows inmates have faced new escape and related charges after being brought back into custody, per KOLO…