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Captured Fugitive, Who Fled From a California Prison, Apprehended at Coyote Valley Gambling Establishment

Fugitive Donovan Bacon escapes prison camp, promptly apprehended at Coyote Valley Casino four hours post-escape.

Convicted armed robber Donovan Bacon, seen here in a mugshot, was apprehended at the Coyote Valley...
Convicted armed robber Donovan Bacon, seen here in a mugshot, was apprehended at the Coyote Valley Casino in Northern California, four hours following his escape from a minimum-security prison camp in 2023.

Captured Fugitive, Who Fled From a California Prison, Apprehended at Coyote Valley Gambling Establishment

Updated Article:

Title: Donovan Bacon's Casino Escape: The Latest Chapter in a Shocking Prison Break Tale

Date: May 6, 2025, 03:17h

Last Updated: May 6, 2025, 03:17h

Author: Philip Conneller

Category: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming

Donovan Bacon's Unexpected Casino Sojourn

Talk about bad luck meeting a crafty criminal! Donovan Bacon, a convicted armed robber, managed to escape from a low-security California prison camp and find himself right in the heart of gaming action.

At around 7:30 am on Sunday, Bacon, 36, slipped out of the minimum-security Paradise Fork Conservation Camp #6 unnoticed. This facility, situated near Fort Bragg, trains inmates for firefighting duties, supporting Cal Fire and local agencies during emergencies.

Four hours later, a team of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) special agents found Bacon at the bustling Coyote Valley Casino in Mendocino County.

A Questionable Choice?

Bacon's destination might seem puzzling, given the intense surveillance that casinos typically face. Yet, it's not unusual for convicts on the lam to find themselves at a gaming venue. Perhaps Bacon believed he could hide in the crowd, or maybe he was after some quick cash. Or perhaps he just wanted to enjoy a little freedom while he could.

In 2012, James Misleveck and James Newman, convicts who broke out of a correctional center in Wisconsin, embarked on a cross-country crime spree. They ended up at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Florida, where they were eventually captured[1]. Both men had been sentenced for weapons charges and sexual assault, among other offenses, yet they were just weeks away from their release.

A Rare but Bold Move

Though prison escapees may seek out places where they can blend in or access resources, casinos are not a common destination. The statistical context surrounding this phenomenon is not widely documented. It remains a fascinating example of how the allure of entertainment can unexpectedly intersect with the darker side of society.

[1] Data on the specific incident involving Donovan R. Bacon is available, but a comprehensive analysis of the broader pattern of prison escapees ending up at casinos is not readily accessible in the available literature.

  1. Donovan Bacon, an inmate who escaped from the Paradise Fork Conservation Camp #6 in California, was captured at the Coyote Valley Casino in Mendocino County by CDCR special agents four hours after his escape.
  2. The choice of a casino as a hideout may seem peculiar, given the high level of surveillance, but it's not entirely unheard of for convicts on the run to seek out gaming venues.
  3. In a similar incident, James Misleveck and James Newman, two convicts who fled a correctional center in Wisconsin, were eventually captured at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Florida in 2012.
  4. Prison escapees might be drawn to casinos for their potential to blend in or access resources, though such instances are not commonly documented in statistical contexts.
  5. The allure of entertainment can sometimes unexpectedly intersect with the darker side of society, as evidenced by incidents like Donovan Bacon's casino arrest.
  6. The broader pattern of prison escapees ending up at casinos is not extensively addressed in available literature, making Bacon's case a rare and intriguing example.
  7. This latest chapter in Donovan Bacon's prison escape saga, complete with a casino-and-gambling twist, is a fascinating addition to the general-news and crime-and-justice categories.

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