Tony Massie, a Plymouth, Mich. man whose 2007 escape from parish jail ended in arrest about three months later and more than 1,000 miles away, pleaded guilty Monday.

Massie, less than a month into serving a life sentence when he jumped the fence while on kitchen duty at the parish jail in Covington, now faces an additional life sentence when sentenced March 3.

At that time, prosecutor Scott Gardner planned to present Massie as a multiple offender, meaning by law state Judge Larry Green can tack on another life sentence if Massie is deemed to be a career criminal. Under Louisiana’s multiple offender statute, convicted criminals are eligible for enhanced penalties when they are found guilty of subsequent felonies. And Massie is no stranger to convictions.

On May 22, 2007, he was found guilty for attempted carjacking when he tried to rob a woman who gave him a ride near Madisonville. On July 15, 2007, he was sentenced to life in prison for that and other charges, all from Michigan, that included fleeing from a police officer, breaking and entering, criminal sexual conduct and unlawful driving away. In that sentencing, prosecutors also used the career criminal statute.

But less than a month later, on Aug. 9, Massie fled to freedom. While on kitchen duty, he used the opportunity to sneak behind a trash bin, and climbed the fence. Sheriff Jack Stain at the time attributed the escape to “human error” and vowed to require more stringent checks and balances.

On Monday, Massie pleaded guilty to simple escape after being caught at a McDonalds by police in Garden City, Mich. on Nov. 15, 2007. Strain said he fled to Michigan because he had family there.

Prosecutors sought the additional life sentence to “send a message to inmates that if you try to escape or break the law while in prison, you will be prosecuted,” District Attorney Walter Reed spokesman Rick Wood said. He added “that way if he tries to appeal one of them, he still has another life sentence to contend with.”