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Two inmates escape from honor farm
marco maciel
Marco Maciel

Local law enforcement is on the hunt for two inmates who escaped from the Stanislaus County Honor Farm.

The two inmates were identified as Marco Antonio Maciel, 23, of Stockton and Tomas Arreola Cornejo, 34, of Delhi.

The inmates were last seen at 6 p.m. Monday and were discovered missing during a head count at 6:30 p.m., said Stanislaus County Sheriff spokesman Sgt. Anthony Bejaran.

The two inmates climbed a fence on the south side of the Honor Farm on Grayson Road in Modesto. Deputies searched the area, but found no trace of either man.

Maciel was in custody for cultivation of marijuana and possession of a concealed firearm. Court records indicate he also had a pending case for a robbery. He was already on probation for a prior offense of transporting and selling narcotics at the time of his arrest on Sept. 17. Maciel was due to be in court today for a preliminary hearing.

Cornejo was in custody for possession of narcotics for sale and cultivation of marijuana. Cornejo was supposed to make a court appearance Tuesday.

Both men are criminal illegal aliens who were also being held on immigration holds pending the adjudication of their current criminal cases, Bejaran said.

In addition to their other charges, both men will be charged with felony escape.

The honor farm is a minimum security facility which is slated to be closed in September 2013, once construction is completed on a new 192 bed facility. The sheriff’s department said the men were housed at the honor farm because of inadequate space at the higher security Stanislaus County Jail facility.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of either man is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 525-7114. Callers can also leave an anonymous tip at Crime Stoppers at 521-4636. Tipsters can also e-mail tips at http://www.modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers, or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward.