Man Convicted of Stealing Computers from Alhambra Business Escapes from Inmate Reception Center

A man convicted of stealing computers from an Alhambra health care office slipped away from an inmate reception center near the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles just hours after being sentenced, sheriff's officials said today.

Christopher Lee Brown, 37, was sentenced Wednesday to four years and eight months behind bars following his March 6 conviction on two counts of second-degree commercial burglary and one count of receiving stolen property.

Brown escaped from custody about 10 p.m. Wednesday from the inmate reception center in the 400 block of Bauchet Street, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida.

The inmate reception center is adjacent to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, and serves both that facility and the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail across the street, Nishida said.

Sheriff's officials said Brown may have impersonated another inmate to facilitate his escape.

Brown, a transient, was convicted of stealing two laptop computers and three flash drives that contained key information belonging to about 729,000 patients treated at the health-care group's six hospitals.

Brown broke into the building in October and December, Deputy District Attorney David Eng said, adding that Brown was arrested soon after the second burglary.

—City News Service