Search On After Inmate Walks Away From NorCal Conservation Camp

DEL NORTE COUNTY, CA — Authorities are searching for a state inmate who walked away from a conservation camp where he was working as a firefighter in Del Norte County Tuesday.

Lester Jackson, 30, was discovered to be missing during an inmate count at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday at Alder Conservation Camp in Klamath, which is staffed by about 110 minimum-security inmates.

Staff searched camp buildings and grounds but didn't find Jackson. He was last seen at around 7:15 a.m. wearing grey sweat pants, authorities said. Local law enforcement, Cal Fire and the California Highway Patrol are assisting in a search.

Jackson was received from Solano County in May 2011, where he was serving an 11-year, 10-month sentence for second-degree robbery, false imprisonment and carjacking, authorities said. He was scheduled to be paroled in June.

He is described as a black male, 6 feet, 1 inches tall, 170 pounds, with brown eyes, long black dreadlocks, a mustache and a short beard. Anyone who sees him should call 911 or contact police, authorities said.