Escaped California Inmate in Police Custody, Others Believed to Be in San Jose

One of the three inmates who escaped a California prison has been caught.

ByABC News
January 30, 2016, 2:40 AM

— -- One of the three inmates who escaped a maximum-security California jail has been caught, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said Friday, and the other two were believed to be in the San Jose area.

Bac Tien Duong, 43, was in police custody after telling residents in Santa Ana, Calif. that he wanted to turn himself in, according to the OCSD. Police are still searching for a white van and the other inmates who they believed were headed to Fresno, they said.

U.S. Marshals released a statement saying that the other two were spotted Thursday evening in the vicinity of the Alameda and Interstate 880, and may be staying in hotels.

Duong allegedly stole the van over the weekend after going for a test drive, police said. The inmates were believed to be living in the van due to its large size, OCSD spokesman Lt. Jeff Hallock said in a press conference Friday morning.

Duong allegedly said that all three were in San Jose together at one point.

Further details on Duong's capture were not immediately available.

VIDEO: California Fugitives Still on the Run, Considered Dangerous
VIDEO: California Fugitives Still on the Run, Considered Dangerous

Duong, along with 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu and 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, was last seen Jan. 22 at 5 a.m. in a holding area, police said. The inmates' escape wasn't confirmed until 16 hours later, giving them a lengthy head start on authorities searching for them.

A jail teacher was arrested Thursday on charges of accessory to felony. Nooshafarin Ravaghi, 44, allegedly provided the inmates with a photo she printed from Google Earth that would have shown an image of the entire jail complex. Ravaghi denied providing the inmates with weapons or tools that would have helped them cut through their steel cell bars, police said.

PHOTO: Nooshafarin Ravaghi, a 44-year-old teacher at the Orange County Central Men's Jail, was arrested for allegedly helping three inmates escape.
Nooshafarin Ravaghi, a 44-year-old teacher at the Orange County Central Men's Jail, was arrested for allegedly helping three inmates escape.

Duong had been facing charges of attempted murder, while Tieu was charged with murder and Nayeri was charged with torture and kidnapping. All three inmates pleaded not guilty to the charges.

This is a developing story. Please check back in for updates.