An Egg Harbor Township man who kept police at bay during a standoff that lasted more than a day is apparently keeping himself holed up in his jail cell these days.
Prentiss Blaylock, 37, caused Ivins Avenue to be blocked off for 26-plus hours in April, after he refused to leave his home.
The convicted felon had spent time atop the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted list, after failing to show up for sentencing in a gun case in December.
Then, he was wanted for questioning after his home burned down at 3083 Ivins Ave. on April 10. The cause of the fire was under investigation. He was not a suspect in the fire at the time.
What remains of Blaylock's home after fire.After the standoff ended, Blaylock was taken to a hospital for observation, and remained there.
He was admitted to the Atlantic County Justice Facility on July 27, records show.
Since then, he has refused to attend any hearings.
Judge Donna Taylor decided Blaylock had been given enough chances to participate in his detention hearing, and had it without him Wednesday.
"He had been notified of his right to be present," she said. "Clearly he has waived that right."
Blaylock also has refused to speak with his attorney in the new case as well, public defender Kevin Moses told the judge.
After arguments from both sides, Taylor ordered Blaylock detained.
He also has two violations of monitoring, including missing his Dec. 6 sentencing on a gun case.
That was from an arrest Aug. 29, 2021, after he was tasered for displaying threatening behavior while armed with a handgun, police said at the time.
Blaylock was released from the Atlantic County Justice Facility this past November, after more than two years in custody, after pleading guilty, BreakingAC previously reported.
He faced a six-year term with 3½ years of parole ineligibility for unlawful possession of a handgun. Several other counts were to be served concurrent to that one with no minimum required.
"State may withdraw plea if defendant fails to show or get new charges," the form reads.
Blaylock apparently did both.
Not only did he not show up for sentencing in December, he wound up charged in March, after a John Deere backhoe was stolen from a construction site.
Those violations will be heard at a later date with his attorney in those cases, Durann Neil, who was not available Wednesday.
The barn where Prentiss Blaylock was holed up. A stand with police lights can be seen.
