A former inmate at the John Burke Correctional Center in Waupun has been charged with escape. Thirty eight year old James Pederson made his initial Dodge County court appearance this week on multiple charges. According to a criminal complaint in December of 2018 while on work release, Pederson stole a co-worker’s vehicle at Northwoods Paper Converting in Beaver Dam , stole two other vehicles and items from the vehicles before later returning to the worksite. The charges carry a maximum sentence of more than 50 years in prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month.
