A security guard who left his keys hanging from a door in the countycourthouse lock-up, allowing a prisoner to escape Tuesday, has been suspended for five days without pay, the county sheriff said yesterday.

David Reece, who has worked as a civilian security guard at thecounty Circuit Court building in Annapolis for about two months, wasalso placed on six months' probation and ordered to undergo trainingfor being "negligent in the performance of his duties," Sheriff Robert G. Pepersack said.

Reece, 54, of Linthicum, had faced the possibility of being fired.

The escaped inmate, Sherrell E. Walker, 27, was recaptured aboutan hour and a half after using the guard's keys to remove his handcuffs and shackles and open a door leading from the basement of the county courthouse.

Walker, of Severn, was charged with escape, authorities said. He was being held on a charge of assault with intent to commit robbery.