<\/p>\n
Miguel Banuelos, 49, walked away from a Nevada County work camp on July 4 and was recaptured in Tijuana without incident on July 6. But after appearing before a magistrate judge in Mexico, he was released on July 10, and remained at large with a warrant for his arrest on July 16, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said.<\/p>\n
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation<\/p>\n
An inmate who escaped a Nevada County work camp on the Fourth of July, was recaptured by authorities in Mexico two days later, and then released by a Mexican magistrate is at large again, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials announced Thursday<\/a>.<\/p>\n Miguel Banuelos, 49, walked away from Washington Ridge Conservation Camp<\/a> in Nevada County on July 4. Correctional staff discovered he was missing during a 2 p.m. headcount after he was last seen about 12:35 p.m. Authorities apprehended Banuelos without incident at a residence<\/a> in Tijuana, Mexico, on July 6 while correctional staff and local law enforcement were searching for him, according to CDCR.<\/p>\n At the time, CDCR said Banuelos was expected to appear before an immigration judge, be processed through a port of entry and returned to a CDCR institution. Instead, a Mexican magistrate released Banuelos on July 10. He remained at large Thursday, and authorities issued a warrant for his arrest.<\/p>\n Banuelos was serving a seven-year prison sentence for transportation or sale of a controlled substance and possession of heroin or cocaine exceeding four kilograms. He was originally scheduled to be released on April 20, 2028, a CDCR spokesperson said.<\/p>\n According to CDCR, since 1977, nearly all people who escaped or walked away from an adult institution, in-state contract bed, camp or community-based program placement have been recaptured.<\/p>\n About 1% of escapees remain at large, according to CDCR. They include Juan David Veramancini<\/a>, 49, who walked away from Growlersburg Conservation Camp near Georgetown in El Dorado County on Feb. 23 and has not been located.<\/p>\n CDCR officials asked anyone with information about Banuelos\u2019 whereabouts to contact the Nevada County Sheriff\u2019s Office or Office of Correctional Services Special Agent Tim Keeney at 916-210-9159.<\/p>\n Banuelos has brown eyes and black hair. He is 5-foot-7 inches and 189 pounds, authorities said.<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780945207_393_ReetiMalhotra.jpg\")