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ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Oneida County Sheriff's Department is investigating after an accused rapist briefly escaped the county jail Wednesday afternoon.

The sheriff says John Santoro, 25, escaped from a recreation area at the jail and was pursued by corrections officers. He was caught about six minutes later, across the street from the facility.

Santoro is being held at the jail on several charges, including rape, kidnapping and witness tampering. Now investigators are trying to figure out exactly how he got away.

"A full investigation into this escape by Santoro is currently underway. Regarding the incident that led him to escape from the facility, obviously special precautions will be taken with him because of this incident," Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol said.

Santoro has been charged with one count of escape in the first degree, a class "d" felony. He was arraigned in Oriskany Court and was then returned to the jail without bail.