A statewide search for a California inmate who walked away from a Los Angeles County conservation camp earlier this week has ended with his capture in Riverside County, officials confirmed.
Inmate Located After Four-Day Manhunt
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reported that Alejandro Tobarfuentes, 33, disappeared around 10 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9 from the Francisquito Conservation Camp. According to the department, Tobarfuentes was apprehended without incident on Thursday in the remote, unincorporated community of Mecca, located in southeastern Riverside County.
Authorities transported him to the California Institution of Men, a state facility in Chino operated by the CDCR.
Who Is the Escaped Inmate?
Tobarfuentes had been admitted to state custody on May 14, 2025, following a conviction in Orange County. He was serving a four-year, eight-month sentence for:
- First-degree burglary
- Displaying or possessing a forged driver’s license or identification card
It remains unclear how he managed to leave the camp, but CDCR conservation camps typically house inmates with lower security classifications who assist with wildfire prevention and emergency response efforts.
Capture Brings Relief to Residents
Law enforcement agencies across Southern California participated in the search before tracking him to Riverside County. Officials did not release further details about the circumstances that led to his discovery but confirmed that no force was required during the arrest…