By Reeti Malhotra
The Sacramento Bee
NEVADA CITY, Calif. — An inmate who escaped a Nevada County work camp on the Fourth of July, was recaptured by authorities in Mexico two days later, and then released by a Mexican magistrate is at large again, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials announced Thursday.
Miguel Banuelos, 49, walked away from Washington Ridge Conservation Camp in Nevada County on July 4. Correctional staff discovered he was missing during a 2 p.m. headcount after he was last seen about 12:35 p.m. Authorities apprehended Banuelos without incident at a residence in Tijuana, Mexico, on July 6 while correctional staff and local law enforcement were searching for him, according to CDCR.
At the time, CDCR said Banuelos was expected to appear before an immigration judge, be processed through a port of entry and returned to a CDCR institution. Instead, a Mexican magistrate released Banuelos on July 10. He remained at large Thursday, and authorities issued a warrant for his arrest.
Banuelos was serving a seven-year prison sentence for transportation or sale of a controlled substance and possession of heroin or cocaine exceeding four kilograms. He was originally scheduled to be released on April 20, 2028, a CDCR spokesperson said.
According to CDCR, since 1977, nearly all people who escaped or walked away from an adult institution, in-state contract bed, camp or community-based program placement have been recaptured.
About 1% of escapees remain at large, according to CDCR. They include Juan David Veramancini, 49, who walked away from Growlersburg Conservation Camp near Georgetown in El Dorado County on Feb. 23 and has not been located.
CDCR officials asked anyone with information about Banuelos’ whereabouts to contact the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office or Office of Correctional Services Special Agent Tim Keeney at 916-210-9159.
Banuelos has brown eyes and black hair. He is 5-foot-7 inches and 189 pounds, authorities said.
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