A Lincoln County Detention Center inmate and his girlfriend are in jail following an attempted escape.

On Thursday, inmate worker Dylan Aufdengarten, 27, was sent to the North Platte Animal Shelter to assist with shelter duties.

At around 12:10 p.m., shelter staff received what the Sheriff’s Office is calling a bogus call regarding a vicious dog on the loose.  Several of the shelter employees responded to the call, leaving the shelter understaffed.

At this time, officials say Aufdengarten slipped out of the shelter and got into a vehicle driven by his girlfriend, 29-year-old Jennifer Harmon.

Shortly after the escape, employees from the shelter reported the matter to law enforcement.  A manhunt which involved the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the North Platte Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol ensued.

Authorities made contact with Harmon, who admitted that she had assisted in the escape.  Harmon advised law enforcement that she and Aufdengarten had gotten into an argument about three miles east of North Platte on State Farm Road and she had kicked him out of the vehicle.

Deputies located Aufdengarten around the 9000 block of East State Farm Road and placed him back in custody.

Aufdengarten was charged with Escape from Custody.

Harmon was charged with Aiding and Abetting escape.

Both face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,ooo fine.

Aufdengarten was serving a jail sentence for assaulting Harmon when he escaped.  He had about 30 days left on his sentence.