PICKENS — County authorities are reporting that 2 inmates escaped from the county stockade during the early morning hours Saturday.

According to assistant administrator Lynn Fisher, prison guards say they discovered around 6 a.m. that Ralph Eugene Ridley, 40, of 210 Cabin Road, Highlands, N.C., did not show up for kitchen work detail.

Fisher said a head count also revealed that another inmate, Jimmy Cannon, 49, of 780 Cannon Road, Salem, was missing.

He said the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office was notified and arrived at the scene shortly after the discovery.

Warrants were issued for both Cannon and Ridley, he said.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and Highlands Police Department were notified, Fisher said.

Both men were serving a one-year family-court child support sentence, according to Fisher.

Ridley’s criminal record, Fisher said, includes criminal domestic violence, using a vehicle without permission, disorderly conduct, public drunk and driving under suspension.

Ridley is described as being 5 ft., 7 in., weighing 170 lb. with blond hair that has been shaved. He also has green eyes.

Cannon is described as being 5 ft., 6 in., weighing 150 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes.

According to Fisher, his previous record includes driving under suspension, simple assault, criminal domestic violence, false imprisonment, driving under the influence, burglary and illegal use of a weapon.

Anyone with information about the escape or either inmate should call the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office at (864) 898-5500.