JACK HARDWAY FLEES FEDERAL HOME CONFINEMENT - Could Surrender To Calhoun Sheriff

(01/20/2006)
State Police and federal authorities have been looking for Roane County resident Jackie Lee Hardway, 62, who reportedly jumped federal home confinement Thursday.

Hardway was reportedly on home confinement in Roane County. but there were indications he was still waiting to be sentenced on federal drug charges.

Federal Marshals notified Calhoun Sheriff Carl Ballengee Friday evening that Hardway wanted to surrender to him.

Sheriff Ballengee said he was prepared to pick-up Hardway and deliver him to federal authorities.

Hardway's house, a short distance from the Calhoun line along Henry's Fork, was raided by police, later resulting in federal charges.

At the time he was facing up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $1 million fine if he is convicted.

He was charged with five federal counts, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, manufacturing meth and possessing a firearm while manufacturing meth.

The incidents occurred on September 10 and 20, 2004 near the Calhoun-Roane line.

Hardway's son, Leonard Hardway, was also arrested following the early morning raid by the State Police.

State Police said the arrests were the result of a five-month investigation that included undercover drug buys.

Police allegedly found methamphetamine and the ingredients to manufacture it. They said 10 guns, including rifles and pistols, were also found in the home.

Hardway's daughter-in-law, Lelia Hardway, is currently incarcerated on drug charges after Roane authorities confiscated a large number of ingredients used to make meth from her van.

Those ingredients later ignited inside the State Police barracks at Spencer, causing a fire.

Lelia Hardway has also been arrested in relation to the manufacturing of meth, and is also connected to a meth lab discovered at Cremo, Calhoun County.