Sheller named new Chester County Prison Warden
Brian Sheller
During its August 19 meeting, the Chester County Prison Board appointed Brian Sheller as the new Warden of Chester County Prison.
Sheller most recently served as Acting Warden after the previous Warden, Howard Holland, was promoted to Deputy County Administrator in March 2026. Sheller has served as the Deputy Warden since February 2024.
In a joint statement, the Chester County Prison...
County prision chapel dedicated to long-time chaplain Crans
The John Lawrence “Jack” Crans Chapel at the Chester County Prison was dedicated in honor of Prison Chaplain Jack Crans on July 27, 2026.
Chester County Prison Chaplain Jack Crans has been a steadfast presence in the lives of incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, and their families for more than five decades. Since 1973, he has devoted his ministry to serving the prison community...
Authorities thwart prison escape
Authorities were able to stop a prisoner from escaping from Chester County Prison Wednesday afternoon, local officials said.
According to a statement from county government issued late Wednesday:
“This afternoon, an inmate attempted to escape from the Chester County Prison. He was quickly apprehended due to a combination of security features and prison staff. All inmates are accounted for...
Holland named permanent Warden for Chester County Prison
Howard Holland
At Tuesday’s public meeting, the Chester County Prison Board of Inspectors unanimously approved the appointment of Howard Holland as Warden of Chester County Prison.
Commenting on the appointment, Chair of the Chester County Prison Board of Inspectors Josh Maxwell said, “In the eight months that Howard Holland has served as Acting Warden, Chester County Prison has seen improvements...
Escape shows being cheap can be very expensive
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Like me, you’re probably a bit tired of hearing about Danelo Cavalcante. I certainly am.
I live about 500 yards from Chester County Prison, so you can probably imagine I have pretty strong feelings about this issue and what caused it.
You will see a lot of back and forth in the next few weeks leading up to the election, who was to blame and such,...
Time for a calm, measured look at what happened at Chester County Prison
By Rich Heiland, Columnist, The Times
DANELO CAVALCANTE is in custody. In Chester County, our 14-days of living with some level of fear, being couch potato voyeurs has ended. Mega congratulations are due for all the law enforcement personnel and others who worked tirelessly to track him down including Yoda, the police dog that locked onto him.
But what now? I would hope a calm and professional...
Letter: Better security needed at Chester County Prison
To The Editor,
Danelo Cavalcante escaping Chester County Prison in West Chester was a scary experience. Families throughout Chester County had to be on super strict guard. If a person does a horrific crime such as committing a murder then in that case justice was served fairly as far as the sentencing.
The Chester County Prison Acting Warden Howard Holland, Deputy Warden of Security Ocie...
GOT HIM! Cavalcante captured Wednesday morning
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Danelo Cavalcante seen earlier this week.
After a two-week manhunt, escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante was taken into custody Wednesday morning by law enforcement officers.
Cavalcante — convicted of the 2021 murder of his girlfriend last month — was captured just after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, after a hunt that started in the southern portion of the...
Now armed, escaped murderer remains on the loose in N. Chesco
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
A recent doorbell cam image of Danelo Cavalcante.
Monday night brought yet another twist in the nearly two-week pursuit of Danelo Cavalcante, the convicted murderer who escaped from Chester County Prison on Aug. 31 — authorities now say he is armed with a rifle and remains at large in northern Chester County.
At a press conference Tuesday morning...
Escaped murderer stole van; thought now to be in northern part of county
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
A clean-shaven Danelo Cavalcante captured on a doorbell camera, Saturday night.
The hunt for escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante took a major turn over the weekend, as authorities say he managed to steal a van from a Pocopson dairy and was sighted in Phoenixville and East Pikeland and is thought to currently be somewhere in the northern Chester County...
