Convict Escapes From Long Beach Facility, Manhunt Continues: Officials

LONG BEACH, CA — Corrections officials are searching for a convict who escaped from a Long Beach facility Tuesday morning.

Officials discovered at 7:20 a.m. that the man, Evans L. Eithan, walked away from the Male Community Reentry Program in Long Beach. They quickly conducted a headcount of those incarcerated at the facility, which confirmed that Eithan was missing, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a release.

Eithan, 23, is serving a three-year, four-month sentence for first-degree burglary, evading arrest while driving recklessly and resisting a peace officer. He came to the Long Beach center last year after serving time behind bars, authorities said.

Eithan fled from the Long Beach facility after getting into the passenger seat of a gray Jeep pickup truck, authorities said.

He joined the Community Reentry Program in June. The program allows certain convicts committed to state prison to serve the latter part of their sentences (two years or less) in reentry centers located in their own communities. "The program links offenders to a range of community-based rehabilitative services that assist with substance use disorders, mental health care, medical care, employment, education, housing, family reunification and social support," according to corrections officials.

Eithan is described as 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and gray shorts.

Anyone with information on Eithan's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Special Agent Abraham Villasenor at 760-936-1851.

According to corrections officials, since 1977, 99% of all people who have left an adult institution, camp, or community-based program without permission have been apprehended.