SALISBURY — Two Lynn women who walked away from an Essex Sheriff’s pre-release center Tuesday face escape charges following their capture early Wednesday morning.

Sheriff’s spokesman Paul Fleming said Tricia Mendez, 26, and Allison Avagianos, 30, were slated to complete jail sentences at the Salisbury center but now face six month to two-year sentences if convicted on the escape charges.

They will be arraigned today in Newburyport District Court.

Fleming said the pair walked away from the center on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and walked about 15 minutes to an Amesbury shopping plaza, where they approached a man and asked to borrow his cell phone.

At the man’s urging, Fleming said the women agreed to come to his Amesbury apartment.

Sheriff’s apprehension team members and Amesbury police arrested the pair at the apartment at 12:38 a.m. Wednesday and arrested and charged the tenant, Byron Isbell, 61, of 23 Perkins St., with aiding and abetting an escape.

“Everything surrounding the circumstances of this are being looked at,” Fleming said Wednesday.

Fleming said jail records list Lynn as Mendez’ last known residence and 262 Den Quarry Road as Avagianos’ last known address.

Fleming said Mendez was completing a six-month sentence at the center for attempting to commit a crime, assault and battery, and receiving a stolen motor vehicle. She was scheduled to leave the facility next week.

Avagianos was completing a year sentence for reckless operation and larceny over $250, and slated to complete her time at the center in April.

Women completing their sentences at the 24-bed Salisbury facility work and participate in substance abuse treatment programs.

“It is not a fenced-in facility,” Fleming said.

Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com.

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