A Chadron man was arrested on drug and weapons charges Thursday morning hiding in a Scottsbluff cornfield after an apparent night of smoking pot with an underage girl in a motel room.

26-year old Andrew Russell is a convicted felon already facing drug and weapons counts from the 4th of July weekend in Crawford.

He now faces Scotts Bluff County charges that include possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

Court documents show Scottsbluff police were called to the motel after complaints about marijuana smoke coming from one room all night and into the morning.

When officers arrived, they were directed to Russell and a 16-year old girl who were in the motel parking lot by an SUV. When asked for his name, Russell gave his brother’s name, then fled on foot with a backpack into a nearby cornfield.

The teen, described by police as apparently under the influence of drugs, jumped into the SUV and refused to open the door or identify Russell – saying her mother had given her permission to be with him. Officers discovered meth and a defaced gun in the SUV.

Officers eventually found Russell and although he didn’t have the backpack on him, it was soon located and found to contain pot, meth, small plastic bags, and a set of scales.

Russell was arrested and taken into custody while the 16-year old girl was held until she was released to her mother.

Russell’s current charges in Dawes County come from an incident in which he and another man were found sleeping in a pickup just outside Crawford. When sheriff’s deputies searched the vehicle, they found meth, cocaine, and marijuana as well as 2 loaded guns

Russell gained statewide attention in Dec 2016 when he and fellow Chadron resident Charles Canady walked away from the Nebraska Work Ethic Camp in McCook.

Russell, who was serving time for drug convictions, was arrested 3 days later in South Dakota. Canaday wasn’t captured until the following Nov at his brother’s home in Chadron