A 16-year-old remained on the lam Friday after he escaped while being taken to the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center on Thursday night, marking the second time this week that a minor has absconded in St. Paul.

In Thursday’s escape, the teen had been at Elmore Academy, a residential treatment facility for juveniles, and was being brought back to the downtown St. Paul detention center by a program staff person, whom he overpowered, said Chris Crutchfield, spokesman for Ramsey County Community Corrections, which runs the detention center.

Meanwhile, Miguel Javier Martinez, the teen who ran from Ramsey County sheriff’s deputies Monday, was charged Thursday with escape from custody, a felony. Deputies had been taking him from the juvenile detention center to a medical appointment when he escaped. He was recaptured the next day.

The case that landed Martinez, 16, of St. Paul, in the detention center in the first place were charges of first-degree aggravated robbery and terroristic threats, both felonies. Now, the victim is unhappy that Martinez might plead guilty to a lesser charge in her case because of the escape.

Tana Kallin, 23, said she didn’t know Martinez until he came to her St. Paul apartment with a friend of a friend. They were all hanging out and listening to music, but eventually she told them they needed to leave so she could sleep. Kallin went to sleep on the couch, though she said Martinez refused to leave.

She said she was awakened when Martinez pulled her off the couch. He dragged her into a closet, punched her over and over, and kicked her in the head, Kallin said. Martinez demanded to know where money was and threatened to kill her and her 2-1/2-year-old son, according to Kallin. She was taken to the hospital and had a concussion, she said.

Kate Courtney, an attorney representing Martinez, said of Kallin’s allegations, “That’s absolutely not true, and he is going to trial on those charges.” Asked what did happen, Courtney said, “I’ll leave it at that for now.”

Kallin said she heard from the Ramsey County attorney’s office Thursday that Martinez might plead guilty to the escape charge if the charges in her case were reduced to fifth-degree assault.

The county attorney’s office tries to keep victims apprised of developments in their cases, which happened when the defense discussed a possible plea bargain in the case involving Martinez, said Dennis Gerhardstein, county attorney’s spokesman.

“I don’t think they’ve made any determination,” he said Friday. “I think you always want to take the victim’s disposition into account in any case, but ultimately I don’t know if that’s what would decide it.”

Courtney said she couldn’t comment on the negotiations.

Martinez was not handcuffed when he ran from deputies, the sheriff’s office has said. He was found Tuesday and returned to the detention center.

A review of what happened remains in progress, the sheriff’s office said Friday.

“Since he’s been in the JDC (juvenile detention center), he’s been nothing but sweet and docile,” Courtney said. “He hasn’t had any write-ups or problems with the staff since he’s been there.”

The second escape occurred about 6 p.m. Thursday, when the unidentified teen was traveling in a van from the academy. He escaped just before they pulled into an underground garage that leads to the detention center, Crutchfield said.

“He was in their van and was able to overpower the driver and get out,” he said.

The teen was at the Elmore Academy on a probation violation, which stemmed from his giving false information to police, Crutchfield said.

“He has a multitude of different offenses, including disorderly conduct, fleeing a police officer, terroristic threats and interference with a transit officer,” Crutchfield said. “For all of those, he was sent to Elmore.” But the teen had been “causing disturbances and acting disorderly,” leading to his dismissal from the program, Crutchfield said.

Law enforcement is searching for the teen, Crutchfield said. He said he doesn’t believe the teen is a danger to the public because “there’s nothing in his record to suggest this young man has committed violent offenses against persons he does not know.”

Community Corrections will be reviewing this week’s escapes, and “if changes are warranted, we’re going to make them,” Crutchfield said.

Mara Gottfried can be reached at 651-228-5262.