Watch how South Carolina inmate escaped jail using a pencil in viral video; here’s what happened next

A fresh video of a South Carolina (S.C.) inmate has emerged where he is seen using a pencil to walk right out of jail and scale a barbed-wire fence. The inmate, identified as Charles Alexander Dieterich, escaped from the Chesterfield County Detention Center in Chesterfield, S.C., at about 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

“Dieterich was originally arrested by CCSO in June 2026 on charges of Possession, Concealment, Sale, or Disposal of a Stolen Vehicle valued at more than $2,000 but less than $10,000; Manufacture/Possession of a Schedule I, II, or III Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, 1st Offense; and Failure to Stop for a Blue Light, 1st Offense," the statement further stated.

The newly released security footage shows that Dieterich lifted the cell door up enough to place a pencil into the locking mechanism, allowing him to slide the door open, the sheriff’s office said. After escaping the cell, Dieterich made his way through the kitchen and slipped out of the building through an unlocked door reserved for inmates on kitchen duty, such as those tasked with taking garbage outside. From there, he climbed a fence topped with barbed wire.


According to the sheriff’s office, he pleaded guilty to those charges on August 13, 2026. Although he was sentenced to time served, Dieterich remained in custody because of an active hold for charges in North Carolina for which he refused to sign an extradition waiver, the sheriff’s office said.

Detention staff respond swiftly after inmate’s escape alert

Dieterich’s cell was located in the B‑Work Camp, part of the older section of the detention center that was originally built in 1972. In its statement, the sheriff’s office said other inmates alerted staff that Dieterich had left the housing area. Detention staff then secured the cell and immediately notified dispatch.

“During routine rounds, detention staff noticed the B-Work Camp door was ajar. Other inmates advised staff that Dieterich had left the housing area. Detention staff secured the cell, immediately notified dispatch, and deputies were dispatched at approximately 4:41 p.m., the sheriff’s office said.

“Deputies arrived in the area within minutes. At approximately 4:48 p.m., deputies made contact with a male subject near the Chesterfield County Shop on Jones Road. While deputies attempted to detain the male subject, he assaulted a deputy before being taken into custody,” it further added.

Following the identification, Dieterich was transported to McLeod Health Cheraw for treatment of injuries sustained while climbing over the barbed wire fence. He was later medically cleared and transported back to the Chesterfield County Detention Center.