An inmate is in custody Wednesday after Lee County deputies said he escaped from prison and held a woman hostage in her home.
According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, deputies received reports of a woman being held hostage at gunpoint around 9:15 a.m. Monday in the Lemon Springs area. Deputies said the hostage sent information to a family member, who then called authorities and said the suspect was Antwan Lopez Clemons.
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Clemons, 46, was a year into an 11-year prison sentence at Butner Federal Prison Camp. The U.S. Justice Deparment said he pleaded guilty in 2025 to trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine in Lee and Harnett counties.
According to the sheriff's office, Clemons was still in his prison-issued outfit when he took the woman hostage. It is unclear how he escaped or how he got from Butner to Lee County.
Sheriff Brian Estes told WRAL News Butner prison officials did not know Clemons had escaped until after Lee County deputies called.
"We are still investigating how he got here to Sanford, we will be charging the person that helped once we finish up a few things," Estes said.
Deputies said they were able to surround the home, and eventually convinced Clemons to release the hostage and turn himself over to authorities.
Clemons is facing several charges in addition to his prior conviction of drug trafficking, including:
- First-degree kidnapping.
- Breaking and entering to terrorize or injure.
- Two counts of assault by pointing a gun.
- Misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
- Communicating threats.
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Deputies did not know when Clemons would return to Butner, but added that he would be at the Lee County Detention Center under no bond, and that more charges were coming.