Where is Eastside now? 'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment' inmate working as tattoo artist during 3-year prison term
PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS: John "Eastside" McAllister of 'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment' has been transferred out of the Pulaski County Detention Facility to serve out his term. He faces accusations of stealing, breaking, and possessing both narcotics and guns.
On August 7, 2023, his sentence—which included a three-year jail term—was handed down. He is now a resident of Pine Bluff, Arkansas's Randall L Williams Correctional Facility.
Eastside was previously caught in Nebraska on December 16, 2019, and sentenced to five years in prison there before receiving his sentence in Arkansas. In Berakasa, he was accused of burglary and narcotics possession.
Although he was technically serving a five-year term, he was freed on January 20, 2021, in accordance with discretionary parole. As he continues to work as a tattoo artist, Eastside claims that doing so is beneficial to his mental health, but he now appears committed to maintaining a "low profile" at the Arkansas institution.
Who is Eastside on 'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment'?
One of the prisoners featured in Netflix's first season of 'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment' was Eastside. Throughout the incredibly unusual experiment, he had a journey that taught him more about himself and the effects of his actions on other people.
In addition, he began to worry a great deal about what was ahead of him in life, which led him to make some unexpected changes in his behavior.
Eastside was a member of the younger population in the H-Unit of the Pulaski County Detention Facility when he was initially shown in the Netflix series. He told Ty, who was in the same cell as him, that he was well-known for his tattoos and had devised a scheme to ink individuals in return for money and favors using his own equipment.
Eastside could not help but feel thrilled about the experiment that Sheriff Eric Higgins had chosen to do for the people living in his unit.
Eastside's cell becomes party hub in 'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment'
Eastside did find it bothersome that a few of the unit's elder prisoners were attempting to take charge and monitor everyone. In particular, he and his buddies were more likely to party and take advantage of their newfound freedom without adhering to any rules—especially ones that weren't being enforced by law enforcement.
At first, Eastside had been happy to abide by the regulations, even though he continued to tattoo people with soot, stapler pins, and a great deal of focus.
Eastside and a few other younger prisoners decided they wanted to create a fire for purposes that included smoking tobacco, among other things, while some of his fellow prisoners were less strict about adhering to the restrictions.
The gang managed to ignite a fire by using batteries in the communal clock, and Eastside was able to suspend a burning wick in his room. Fortunately, the cops returned and searched the area after hearing the alarm from the smoke, but they were unable to locate anything in his chamber at this time.
Eastside takes ownership amidst discovery of illegal contrabands in 'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment'
Unburned wicks were discovered, which prompted a more exhaustive search that turned up many prohibited items for the authorities to seize. This included the hooch, or illicitly produced alcohol, discovered in many cells, including Eastside's.
Eastside decided to accept full responsibility for everything, fearing that this information would put a stop to the experiment that had been ongoing up until that time. He knowingly signed the documents, proving he was the owner of the prohibited item.
Eastside asserted that he understood that Ty, his cellmate, did hold him in high regard, but only because of his illicit behavior. He thus desired to take a different route.
Due to his ownership, the experiment was able to continue, and although Eastside did lose certain rights, he was still able to live in H-Unit and even began to show positive signs of improvement in his mental health. He was among the most fervent speakers on the last day of the decision-making process, arguing that the experiment should go on rather than cease.
What was 'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment's Eastside arrested for?
In 2014, John, aged 19, was arrested following an alleged theft from an exotic animal business in Omaha. He entered through the front door with a hammer and began filling bags with snakes and reptiles.
When the police arrived, John and his accomplices dropped the bags, and the creatures inside crawled or slithered away. They attempted to capture between 50 and 60 animals, with an estimated worth of around $40,000.
John was apprehended as he attempted to go out the front door with a 10-pound snake.
'Unlocked: A Jail Experiment' is available for streaming in its entirety on Netflix.
