A prison inmate entered a plea of not guilty in his recent court appearance to charges he escaped from the Morgan County Correctional Complex, only to attempt to sneak back inside days later with items to sell to other inmates.

In court, Judge Jeff Wicks set a status hearing in the case for February 4, 2019.

Authorities say 37-year-old Robert Fusco, and eight others were indicted earlier this month as part of the contraband scheme.

Fusco, who was serving a near 70 year sentence for especially aggravated kidnapping, escaped prison January 5, 2018. He was captured as he attempted to make his way back in prison two days later attempting to smuggle drugs, cell phones and tobacco inside.

Fusco is now being held as a maximum-security inmate at the Northwest Correctional Complex.

Three other inmates, 68-year-old William Richmond, 35-year-old Cecil Kendall, and 26-year-old Ethan Self are each charged with aiding Fusco.

Fusco’s former cellmate, 30-year-old Jarrett Tolley, is charged with smuggling hacksaw blades into the prison as part of the escape. Tolley is now reportedly living as a woman under the name Alyssa Tolley.

Officials say a former corrections officer, 34-year-old Josh Sexton, is charged with official misconduct.

A second former correctional officer, 29-year-old Megan Cheryl Jones, is charged with tampering with evidence and having sexual contact with Fusco.

Elizabeth England, age 30, a former contract staffer at the prison, is charged in the conspiracy.