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| Hawaiian Prison Warden Transferred After Escape |
| By Honolulu Star-Bulletin |
| Published: 04/17/2003 |
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Halawa Correctional Facility warden Nolan Espinda has been transferred to another position in the state Department of Public Safety administrative office. Espinda, a 20-year department veteran, was notified of the reassignment Friday, the day after the capture of three inmates whose April 4 escape was the first from the Halawa high-security facility. Russell Pang, spokesman for Gov. Linda Lingle, said yesterday the transfer is 'pursuant to the investigation' of the escape by Albert Batalona, Warren Elicker and David Scribner from their cellblock. Asked if the warden's reassignment is linked to the escape, interim Public Safety Director James Propotnick said: 'We are putting him where we can make better use of him. He will be assisting Corrections Administrator Ed Shimoda in an office that is overrun with work.' Propotnick said an internal investigation is under way into the escape, and 'it would not be fair to do anything until it is completed. 'Nolan does not deserve any bad raps,' Propotnick said. 'These changes are made because it is in best interest of everybody at this time to better utilize people.' Espinda was acting warden at Oahu Community Correctional Center when he was named Halawa warden in May 1999. He is on vacation this week. His pay will not be affected by the transfer, Propotnick said. The three prisoners escaped from a special-needs facility that houses 162 inmates serving long prison terms. Police said Elicker and Scribner, who shared a cell, and Batalona, in the adjacent cell, scraped through a plumbing wall with metal objects and lowered themselves following plumbing lines to a ground-level service room. They also scaled a 16-foot fence topped with razor wire in the early-morning escape. They were missing at a 4 a.m. head count. Propotnick earlier described the escape as 'well planned and well orchestrated.' |
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