LEWISTON – Stanley Wetmore turned himself in early Wednesday after spending two nights in the woods after he walked away from the Charleston Correctional Facility.

Police said the 38-year-old Auburn man traveled approximately 12 miles over trails between Charleston and the town of Dexter after his Monday night escape. About 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Wetmore went to the Dexter Police Department and gave himself up. Dexter is northwest of Charleston.

When he walked away from the Charleston prison, Wetmore had just over a year left in a seven-year sentence for aggravated assault and burglary convictions.

He could face up to five additional years if convicted of escape.

In 1998, Wetmore was sent to the Charleston lockup, convicted of beating his estranged wife repeatedly with a hammer inside her Lewiston apartment. He spent two days on the run before police arrested him in the attack.

When he slipped away Monday night, police and prison officials immediately classified him as dangerous. The classification was due to the violent nature of his crime, police said.

On July 20, 1998, Wetmore sneaked into his estranged wife’s apartment and hid in a bedroom until she came home. Police said he then lunged at his wife, beating her with the hammer and strangling her in an attempt to render her unconscious.

Lisa Wetmore survived the beating and the search began for her estranged husband. He was found two days after the attack, hiding in a vacant house on Hutchins Street in Auburn.

Originally charged with attempted murder, Wetmore was ultimately convicted of aggravated assault and burglary.

When he left from Charleston, police in Lewiston and Auburn were immediately alerted to be on the lookout for him. Fearing Wetmore may try to see his now ex-wife, police tried to alert her.