Joe Orus gets free cross-country trip at Kentucky tax payers expense

"It was me."

I've drove and/or ridden across the country a handful of times. It's a pretty long drive and often I'm more focused on my destination, not necessary the journey. While each trip has been an experience, I don't know that I'd call each one fun.

But I know I had a lot more fun on my cross-country road trips then Joe Orus had on his recent trip across America from California to Kentucky.

Orus was waiting to be released from a jail in Tehachapi, Calif., two weeks ago after serving time for domestic violence when a check showed he was wanted on a warrant in Butler County.

He tired telling officials it wasn't him, based mostly on the fact he'd never been to Kentucky or even out of the state. Since "It wasn't me, you've got the wrong guy," is a common bad guy line, no one believed him so Butler County Sheriff Joe Gaddie and Deputy Mitchell Russ (half of the county's force) drove out to California to get him since he was wanted for the serious crime of driving under the influence, evading police and failing to show up in court for said offenses.

Police made him make the 2,012-mile trip in handcuffs and stopped to see Buck Owens' Crystal Palace along the way. They also stopped a few times for survivors along the way.

The sheriff was so excited to nab this fugitive that he apparently just jumped in the car, forgetting to pack little things such as a toothbrush, the suspects's fingerprints or mug shot. When they got him back to Butler County, Orus was able to convince Jailer Terry Fugate to check his mug shot, where he discovered that Orus had in fact, not committed the crime. A fingerprint check confirmed this. The real bad guy had stolen Orus' identity (help find the real criminal, if you recognize the man in the photo above call (270) 526-3676).

Orus was then removed from his cell and given free coffee. Since he had recently graduated from barber college and was pretty excited, he gave the deputy jailers free hair cuts, because apparently, free haircuts mean's "heck yeah, I'm getting out of here!" in prison symbolism.

He got to stay in a hotel until he flew back to California the next morning. Despite driving more than 4,000 miles and spending $1,300 of tax money that may end up being $5,400 because of millage rules to get Orus, Gaddie refused to drive him the 85 miles to the airport because "he wouldn't get paid."

Luckily, he was able to catch a ride from one of the deputy jailers, proof that there really is no such thing as a free haircut in jail.

Orus is thinking about suing officials in California and Butler County but isn't sure yet since he likes Gaddie. But since he's poor and has about $10,000 worth of fines to pay with no job, he's currently considering it.

Orus got to take his first trip out of California, see eight states for free, take his first airplane ride and may avoid having to work to pay his fines, all for spending 30 hours in the backseat of a police car. Perhaps Orus' cross-country trip was more fun than any I've ever taken.