Escaped IE Prison Inmate Found 1 Month Later In Arizona

CHINO, CA — A prison inmate who walked away from the Prado Conservation Camp in San Bernardino County early last month was found in Arizona, authorities announced Tuesday.

Casey J. Lyons, 30, was taken into custody without incident by California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation agents shortly before 6 p.m. Monday in Bullhead City, according to a CDCR report.

He is currently pending extradition to California, and his case will be referred to the San Bernardino County District Attorney for consideration of escape charges, the CDCR reported.

Before his disappearance, Lyons was last seen at the prison camp at 8:50 a.m. April 7. A search of the camp buildings and grounds was conducted, and local law enforcement agencies were notified and assisted in the search for him, according to the CDCR.

Lyons was admitted from Shasta County on August 20, 2019, to serve five years for second-degree robbery and assault with a deadly weapon as a second striker. He was released to parole supervision on June 19, 2021. He was then admitted again from Lassen County with a new prison term on July 22, 2022, to serve two years, eight months for possession of ammunition by a prohibited person as a second striker.

Prado Conservation Camp is located about two miles south of Chino and has a designed capacity for 80 male inmates. CDCR and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) jointly operate the minimum-security facility. Camp inmates are utilized for fire suppression, principally in San Bernardino County, although crews can be sent anywhere in the state. In addition to fire suppression, inmates provide a workforce for conservation projects, according to CDCR.