El Toro : Inmate Escapes From Minimum-Security Jail
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An El Toro man, in custody for violating probation on a drunk-driving conviction and who apparently was using an alias, escaped from the James A. Musick minimum-security jail sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning, authorities said.
John Elroy Romines, 28, was using the name Joseph Michael Welch when he was arrested and taken to the jail last week, Sheriff’s Department Lt. Larry Abbott said.
Romines was last seen at an 11 p.m. head count Saturday night and was discovered missing during a 5 a.m. wake-up call Sunday morning, Abbott said.
Abbott said the discrepancy between the names was discovered after Romines’ escape, when deputies compared the escapee with his supposed fingerprints. Abbott said he did not know how long a sentence Romines was serving for the drunk-driving probation violation.
A search for Romines was continuing late Sunday.
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