Two fail to return from work release, are sentenced to state prison

Two inmates at the Carbon County prison failed to return to the prison while on work released and were sentenced Friday to state prison terms.

Dylan Brett Danko, 27, of Lehighton, and Amin Abel Nova-Reyes, 30, of Reading, were granted work-release privileges and were out on their first day in the program when they failed to return to the jail. Both were serving terms on felony charges and pleaded to one count each of escape, as a felony.

Danko was sentenced to serve one to three years in a state prison, and Nova-Reyes was sentenced to serve three to 24 months in a state prison. Nova-Reyes’ term runs consecutive to a state prison term on nine to 23 months he is currently serving and imposed in Northampton County. The sentences were imposed by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Nova-Reyes left the prison on Aug. 28 and failed to return. He told the court he had called a friend to meet him outside his workplace and they drove to Reading. He said he was concerned about his daughter. He claimed he did not know the whereabouts of his daughter.

Danko was also on his first day of work release on June 10 when he failed to return to the prison. He is currently serving a probation violation prison term. Nanovic ruled the new term will run concurrent with the term he is now serving.

Both were ordered to submit DNA samples because they pleaded to felony charges and pay court costs of about $1,000 each. Danko must also pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole.