Youth Prison Escapee Remains At Large
A California Youth Authority inmate who escaped from a work crew in the Ojai canyons on Monday is still missing, but authorities searching for the 18-year-old offender believe he remains in the area.
A search party from the correctional facility and sheriff’s deputies have concentrated a search for Larry Sanchez Jr. to western Ventura County, said Cynthia Brown, spokeswoman for the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility.
Sanchez was one of 17 inmates on a fire crew clearing brush from the Ojai canyons near California 150 when he was discovered missing about 2:20 p.m.
Brown said seven California Youth Authority employees searched the brush area all night Monday.
“We believe he is still in that area,” Brown said. “We’ve had no one call in any sightings of him, and he has not made contact [with] his friends or relatives.”
Sanchez, serving time for burglary and use of a firearm, is described as Latino, 5 feet 10, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing the fire crew uniform of blue jeans, khaki shirt and black boots.
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