Convicted NC killer – now convicted York County shoplifter – caught after months on run

A convicted killer and prison escapee prosecutors and police warned should be considered dangerous after he did not show up for court in May after leading police on a 100 MPH-plus chase in two states was caught in Gastonia, N.C. Sunday after a manhunt that lasted almost three months, N.C., jail and court officials said.

Jerry Lee Dickey, 41, is being held without bond in the Gaston County, N.C. jail pending extradition to York County, jail records from Gaston County, N.C. show.

Dickey will face sentencing from his May convictions when he is brought back to York County, said 16th Circuit Assistant Solicitor Matthew Hogge.

Hogge is the York County prosecutor who convicted Dickey in May on charges of enhanced shoplifting and fleeing from police - even though Dickey never showed up for court.

In the police pursuit captured on police dashcam video after Dickey robbed a Clover discount store in August of last year, Dickey is seen weaving in and out of traffic on U.S. 321 as he fled into North Carolina before he was caught.

Dickey was released on $4,500 bond pending trial after his arrest in 2014. Dickey was in court the day before his trial started in May but didn’t show up the next day and was convicted despite not being in court.

Dickey has at least 11 past criminal convictions in both Carolinas, including a past conviction for murder and convictions for escape and other crimes. He faces up to 13 years in prison from the most recent South Carolina convictions - 10 years for the enhanced shoplifting, and three years for the chase. But the judge sealed the sentence because Dickey had not been found when he was convicted.

It remains unclear if Dickey will face other charges related to his fleeing from appearing in court.

This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 9:17 AM with the headline "Convicted NC killer – now convicted York County shoplifter – caught after months on run."