SANTA CLARITA — Authorities Tuesday were searching for an inmate who escaped from a Santa Clarita prison camp for inmates used on fire crews and other work.
Alejandro A. Tobarfuentes was discovered missing at about 10 p.m. Sunday from Francisquito Conservation Camp #4, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The camp is jointly operated by the CDCR and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Incarcerated crews are utilized on wildland fire suppression as well as county conservation assignments, including maintenance of the California Aqueduct, local parks and fire stations. Crews primarily work in Los Angeles County, officials said.
Tobarfuentes, 33, was described as 5-feet-10 inches tall and 164 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair and was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, gray sweatshirt and an orange beanie.
A photo was made available on the CDCR website.
Tobarfuentes and Jorge Navarretecorvalan were arrested on June 8, 2024, after crashing their Mini Cooper head-on into a Toyota Camry while driving northbound in the southbound lanes after narrowly missing hitting an Orange County sheriff’s deputy who had tried to pull their vehicle over, according to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
The Camry driver suffered serious injuries.
Authorities said the pair had burglarized a home in San Juan Capistrano before the accident.
Tobarfuentes was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for first-degree burglary and displaying forged driver’s license or ID.
The Orange County DA’s Office said he was a Chilean national in the United States on a visa waiver from the Department of Homeland Security
Anyone who sees Tobarfuentes or has knowledge of his whereabouts was urged to contact law enforcement, call 911, or contact Special Agent S. Rojas at 909-727-1947.