BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — An inmate escaped from custody of the Kern County Sheriff's Office while being taken to Kern Medical in East Bakersfield on Wednesday morning. He was caught in a nearby neighborhood shortly after, according to the KCSO.
The sheriff's office says they responded to the escape of inmate Vincent Deleon, 45, from Kern Medical around 11 a.m.
Deleon was transported to Kern Medical for a scheduled appointment when he escaped, according to KCSO.
Deleon was taken into custody about an hour and a half later without incident in a neighborhood on Quincy Street near West and Orange drives.
Deleon was convicted of raping a Bakersfield woman after kidnapping her from the In-Shape in Northwest Bakersfield, according to the DA's office. He then drove the victim to her bank to withdraw $500 and then instructed the woman to drive to an orange orchard, where he then raped her.
Deleon is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, where he potentially faces five consecutive life terms.
Neighbors in the area reported that this is not the first time an inmate has escaped KCSO custody while being take to KMC.
According to a spokesperson from Kern Medical, while the facility provides treatment to individuals in custody when requested by law enforcement agencies, security and custodial responsibilities remain under the authority and supervision of the transporting law enforcement agency.
23ABC reached out Wednesday to KCSO for an interview on the escape but were unable to receive further comment at the time.
*This story has been updated to provide additional clarification of custodial responsibilities of inmates at medical facilities.
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