State Hospital inmate escapes for second time

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 38-year-old man with a history of violent offenses has escaped for the second time in two months from the Hawai'i State Hospital in Kane'ohe.

James Morgan Huffman was last seen during an 8 p.m. bed check Wednesday at the Hawai'i State Hospital in Kane'ohe.

Police said he later broke a window lock and fled.

Huffman was committed to the state hospital last December after a judge found him unfit to stand trial.

He was charged with second-degree robbery in connection with a Jan. 26, 2000, incident downtown.

The hospital management has come under fire recently for a series of escapes and its struggles to comply with a federal consent decree.

In May, U.S. District Judge David Ezra appointed federal Magistrate Kevin Chang to oversee the hospital's efforts to improve conditions and services for its patients.

From Jan. 1 to April 9, there were six escapes by five patients, according to the hospital.

Last year, the hospital reported 16 escapes involving 13 inmates.

Huffman's first escape was April 6, police said.

He was on a supervised walk around the hospital grounds when he ran through some bushes and refused orders to return to his group.

His freedom was short-lived, however, as he was captured later that day in the Kahalu'u area of Windward O'ahu.

Police said Huffman had been convicted of violent offenses in several states.

Huffman, also known as James Michael Allen, is described as 5 feet 7 inches, 140 pounds, with brownish-gray hair, brown eyes, fair complexion and an unshaven appearance.

He was last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information on Huffman is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.