06/22/2026
𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐒𝐓. 𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐉𝐀𝐈𝐋
On June 3, 2026, SJSO Corrections Detectives filed new charges on two current inmates in the St. Johns County Detention Center. With the assistance of the State Attorney, Florida's 7th Circuit, the two inmates were officially arrested for the new charges below on June 22, 2026.
Joseph Silcott (20) was charged with Aggravated Assault in County Jail or Detention Facility, False Imprisonment, Attempted Escape, Conspiracy to Commit Escape, Criminal Mischief ($1,000 or more), Possession of Contraband for Escape in County Detention Facility (five counts) and Attempt to Introduce Contraband into a County Detention Facility (three counts).
Joseph Izzi (38) was charged with Attempted Escape, Conspiracy to Commit Escape, Possession of Contraband for Escape in County Detention Facility (two counts), Criminal Mischief ($1,000 or more), Tampering with Physical Evidence and False Information to Law Enforcement.
Both inmates were housed in the same cell on multiple felony charges prior to this incident. Silcott was previously arrested on the following charges: Robbery with a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Resisting. Izzi was previously arrested for multiple felonies including Human Trafficking and Child S*x Crimes. Neither Silcott nor Izzi had a bond. The new charges unfolded after the two inmates were placed in the same cell.
On May 16, 2026, inmate (Izzi) informed staff his cell mate (Silcott) was in possession of a weapon and threatened him with it. The inmates were separated, questioned about the incident, and a search was conducted in the cell. The search yielded numerous metal objects, two of which had a sharpened edge and could be used as weapons. It also revealed damage to the sink and toilet, which are normally attached to the wall, and the cell window was broken out with a clear opening to the outdoors.
An investigation began which ultimately revealed both inmates were involved in plotting an escape and were actively working on executing the plan within their cell. The two inmates planned to create a hole in the wall of their cell as an exit route after they broke the toilet and sink apparatus from the wall. The inmates broke the glass window out from the sill and flushed the evidence piece by piece. The outer plastic window, which is used to obstruct exterior visibility, was still intact but broken on one end. Their strategy was to obtain more contraband using the open window via drone. Silcott requested a sawblade, a finger phone and narcotics to be flown through the window during a recorded phone call. The inmates planned to use the saw blade to finish creating an exit.
After finding the evidence and learning about the escape plan, detectives reviewed camera footage, phone calls, and interviewed witnesses in that cell block. Sworn statements were collected and photos were taken of all evidence and damage within the cell.
The following facts were found during the investigation:
- Six (6) metal objects were located in the cell. The metal objects were broken off the window sill that held the window in place as well as removed from a mop bucket.
- The sink/toilet apparatus was damaged and removed from the wall and the inmates used toilet paper, soap and toothpaste to create a caulking substance to conceal their plan of escape.
- Camera footage showed both inmates actively involved in damaging the toilet and breaking the window. It also captured them sweeping up and flushing the glass.
- Both inmates were seen in possession of weapons and escape tools on different dates and times.
- Witnesses gave sworn statements stating both inmates had an escape plan and weapons in their cell.
- Izzi ultimately gave a full post-Miranda confession regarding both Silcott’s and his actions, plans and specific details about the contraband drop via drone.
- SJSO Inmate Communications located evidence on Silcott’s recorded phone call requesting contraband be delivered via drone to further their progress on the escape plan.
Additional evidence and statements revealed that Silcott and Izzi’s partnership soured after Silcott gained knowledge of Izzi’s Human Trafficking and Child S*x Crimes charges. Silcott threatened Izzi with a homemade edged weapon and told him to remain in his bunk and stole several of his canteen items. This incident prompted Izzi to come forward regarding the weapons in fear of Silcott, which led to a cell search, ultimately exposing the premeditated escape plan.
SJSO detectives worked with the State Attorney’s Office and charged Joseph Silcott and Joseph Izzi today with the above charges. There is an active investigation regarding the outside accomplice(s) involved with this case, and no further information will be released at this time.
“𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺. 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘵. 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺,” 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘙𝘰𝘣 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘬.
No further information will be released at this time.
