Authorities search for inmate firefighter who walked away from CDCR camp in Del Norte County

A minimum-security inmate slated for parole this summer walked away from a state conservation camp in Del Norte County on Tuesday, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said.

Lester Jackson, 30, was discovered missing from Alder Conservation Camp in Klamath when he didn’t show up for breakfast at 8:50 a.m., CDCR said. Staff searched the buildings and grounds and determined Jackson had walked away from the camp.

Jackson was assigned as a firefighter at the camp, which houses 110 minimum-security inmates, CDCR said.

He was last seen at 7:15 a.m. wearing grey sweatpants.

Jackson is described as a black male, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds with brown eyes, long black hair worn in dreadlocks, a mustache and a short beard, CDCR said.

“He was received from Solano County in May 2011 with an 11-year, 10-month sentence for second-degree robbery, false imprisonment and carjacking. He was scheduled to parole in June 2020,” according to the news release.

Anyone who sees Jackson is asked to call 911 or contact law enforcement. Anyone with knowledge of Jackson’s whereabouts is asked to contact the CCC Watch Commander at 530-257-2181, extension 4173.