Prison reviews security flaws
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
Authorities continued to search yesterday for two female prisoners who escaped Monday from O'ahu Community Correctional Center.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Still at large last night were Michelle Rene Padilla, 27, a drug offender, and Kimberly Ann Reiko Takata, also known as Loriann Silva, who defrauded the welfare system of $46,098 from 1993 to 1997.
An inmate work crew from the O'ahu Community Corrections Center repairs a section of the Pu'uhale Road fenceline. Two female inmates escaped through a gap in the fence while guards were distracted Monday night.
Padilla is facing arraignment on theft charges, and Takata is scheduled to be resentenced in June on the welfare fraud charges after having her deferral of a no-contest plea rescinded.
The two escaped Monday evening by walking out the front door of their module and squeezing through a gap in a fence at a security "blind spot" near an unstaffed guard tower, with the help of at least one accomplice outside who apparently helped open the fence, according to Acting Public Director James Propotnick.
Faced with the second escape during his short tenure in charge of Hawai'i's prisons, Propotnick said the breakout point "is not a blind spot anymore;" the guard tower is staffed; and constant "live security" and roving patrols have been assigned to the area.
"And we've hardened up the fence line — in fact hardened it twice, because I wasn't satisfied with the first effort," he said.
Kimberly Ann Reiko Takata, left, and Michelle Rene Padilla escaped Monday.
"Now we are investigating the small details as to what led up to the escape, and who or what may have assisted them."
According to a police report, a disturbance was staged in the module to distract the guards.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
The escapees were seen on Pu'uhale Road getting into an older-model black Chevy Camaro with a male driver and female passenger. The vehicle was last seen by patrol officers on H-1 westbound, passing Kapolei at about 8:15 p.m.
OCCC Adult Corrections Officer Bolo Kahawai, left; Public Safety Director James Propotnick, center; and OCCC acting warden Francis Sequeira check the facility's fence, which was broached Monday night.
Hopes for a quick capture soared at about noon yesterday when employees of a Pearl Kai check-cashing company reported seeing what may have been the two women in their lobby.
Police quickly determined they were not the escapees. Investigators said later the suspects might still be in the Wai'anae area.
Authorities asked anyone with information to call 911 or leave an anonymous tip with CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
The escape occurred 24 days after Albert Batalona, Warren Elicker and David Scribner escaped from Halawa's high-security prison, triggering a six-day manhunt involving hundreds of police, state and federal personnel before the three were recaptured.
Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.
