A man convicted of aggravated assault is on the run from the law, once again, after breaking out of jail.

David Wiebe escaped from the Whitehorse Correctional Centre (WCC) sometime between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. today.

Whitehorse RCMP were called to the jail at around 6:15 a.m.

It wasn't until Wiebe failed to show up for kitchen duty shortly before 6 a.m. that he was discovered missing, said WCC superintendent Phil Perrin.

Staff running the kitchen had asked that he be woken up and told to get to work, said Perrin.

All that was found, though, were the extra blankets Wiebe used to make it appear there was a body in the bed for the hourly dorm checks done by guards overnight, said Perrin.

Jail staff believe Wiebe gained access through his window.

'Some of the bolts (on the bars for the window) were broken,' said Perrin.

After Wiebe was outside, he likely climbed over the fence surrounding the 39-year-old jail off Range Road.

The jail is also conducting an investigation that will look at whether there was any indication of plans for an escape and what measures could be in place to avoid a repeat.

'We're also reviewing videotape,' said Perrin.

It's expected the investigation will take about a week.

This marks Wiebe's second attempt to escape his sentencing for the September 2005 aggravated assault of Darryl Hewitt.

After he was found guilty of the assault in March by visiting Judge Dennis Overend, he failed to show up for his sentencing, which had been scheduled for the same afternoon.

A warrant for his arrest was issued.

He was found by police in April and taken into custody, with his sentencing rescheduled for Aug. 22.

Over the two-day trial in March, the court heard from about 10 witnesses that on Sept. 13, 2005, Wiebe had gone to the '98 Hotel to get his girlfriend to come home for dinner.

He was kicked out of the bar, but eventually came back and still couldn't get his girlfriend to come home with him.

When she did return home, it was with Hewitt, who had bought her a drink at the bar.

During an altercation between Wiebe and Hewitt on the stairs inside the downtown apartment building where she lived, Hewitt was thrown or fell (as Wiebe testified) down the stairs.

Wiebe continued to punch and kick Hewitt after he landed to the main floor entrance of the building, the court heard from various witnesses.

Wiebe is described as a 38-year-old Caucasian man with a medium complexion who has brown eyes and brown hair.

He is about five feet, seven inches tall and weighs about 151 lbs. On his upper right arm is a tattoo stating: 'Fthe World'.

Though police don't believe Wiebe is a threat to the general public, they are cautioning residents not to approach or interfere with him, but to contact police or Crime Stoppers immediately at 1-800-222-8477.