Kern County Inmate Francisco Garcia Arrested

Francisco Garcia, a 23-year-old Lerdo Jail inmate convicted in July of multiple felonies including two counts of attempted homicide and facing up to 80 years to life, escaped custody around 11 p.m. Saturday while being transported to a medical appointment at Kern Medical. Video and dispatch records show Garcia — who was shackled at the time — ran eastbound through the hospital parking lot and deputies later found his shackles at the scene. Detectives located and arrested Garcia Monday evening at a residence on Panama Road in Lamont. Two others, Jasmine Morales and Elektra Espinoza, were also arrested on charges including conspiracy, aiding and abetting an escape and being an accessory. Authorities credited a multi-agency effort involving the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Bakersfield Police Department, California Highway Patrol, ATF, U.S. Marshals and the state’s Fugitive Apprehension/Corrections teams; officials said Garcia will face additional escape-related charges and that the sheriff’s office is reviewing transport procedures, and they continue to seek tips through the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and Secret Witness lines.