Two California Inmates Apprehended After Walking Away from Conservation Camps

Two inmates recently walked away from conservation camps in California and were apprehended shortly afterward. Angel A. Gaxiola, 33, escaped from Holton Conservation Camp in Los Angeles County on May 25, 2025, but was captured without incident by Upland Police the following morning; he was serving six years for second-degree robbery and will face escape charges. Similarly, Dion Harvey, 24, walked away from Growlersburg Conservation Camp in El Dorado County late at night and was taken into custody by officers around 5:45 a.m. the next day; he was serving a 12-year sentence for second-degree robbery with a firearm enhancement. Both inmates were transferred to different facilities after their apprehension, and their cases will be referred to local district attorneys for consideration of escape charges. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation highlighted that since 1977, 99% of individuals who have left institutions or camps without permission have been apprehended. These incidents underscore ongoing security efforts at conservation camps where inmates work on public service projects, including wildland fire crews.