Inmate Escapes Jail Via Kitchen Window, Heads To Carl's Jr.
William Scott Woodin
William Scott Woodin, 39, was discovered missing from Theo Lacy Jail around 5:39pm on Wednesday. He was last seen at the jail at 4pm. While on work detail in the jail's kitchen, Woodin allegedly broke a small window near the kitchen and squeezed his 6-foot, 200-pound self through the opening. He placed a bench in front of the window to conceal its damaged condition.
Witnesses have reported seeing Woodin ditch his jumpsuit at a Carl's Jr. located across the street from the jail at 5:39pm, reports City News Service. The escapee was then seen running south on City Drive. Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said bloodhounds lost Woodin's scent at Trask Avenue and Newhope Street in Garden Grove, adding that the convict may have hitched a ride or have had someone pick him up at that location.
Sentenced to the local jail for 314 days to ease overcrowding in state prisons, Woodin, a nonviolent offender, is the first inmate in 20 years to escape from the maximum security jail. He was arrested on October 23 by Irvine police on suspicion of stealing a watch from Nordstrom and was already on probation for theft and narcotics convictions.
Woodin now faces escape charges that could add a year to his sentence. The jail plans to fix and tweak the window to prevent future escapes.
Anyone with information on Woodin is asked to call 855-TIP-OCCS.
