Convicted in Jail Stabbings : Court Escapee a Felon Facing Murder Charge

A Los Angeles County Jail inmate who escaped from the Criminal Courts Building last week along with James Hawkins Jr., is a dangerous felon already convicted of two jailhouse stabbings and awaiting trial for murder in a third case, a prosecutor said Monday.

In addition, Jesus Gonzalez, 24, a reputed member of the Temple Street gang before he first landed in County Jail more than four years ago, is believed to have become linked with the Mexican Mafia prison gang during his incarceration, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Patrick R. Dixon.

Gonzalez had been held in the jail longer than all but one current inmate, the prosecutor added.

Dixon was prosecuting Gonzalez for the Sept. 15, 1981, knife slaying of another jail inmate before Gonzalez, Hawkins and another man escaped from the 14th floor of the courthouse late Wednesday afternoon.

Wearing Civilian Clothes

Gonzalez and Hawkins, 41, both dressed in civilian clothes, were last seen making their way toward Union Station.

The third inmate, Richard Bullock, 25, had his legs shackled and was captured a short time after the escape by a group of citizens outside the downtown courthouse. He was accused of misdemeanor offenses.

Hawkins had been awaiting trial in a double murder case involving two alleged drug dealers. In an unrelated matter, he had recently been sentenced to 28 years in state prison for the 1983 shotgun killing of a gang member near his family’s grocery in Watts. The shooting sparked two nights of violent retaliation against the Hawkins family, whose fight against the gang drew national attention.

The custody division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department--which is responsible for operating the jail and handling prisoners in the courthouse--is investigating the circumstances surrounding the escape, according to Deputy Lynda R. Edmonds.

Gonzalez is described as a Latino who stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and wears a teardrop tattoo under his left eye.

Hawkins, who is black, is six feet tall. He also has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a mustache.

Jailed in March, 1981

When Gonzalez first arrived in the jail in March, 1981, he was accused of using a gun in a gang-related assault, Dixon said. He was ultimately sentenced to three years in state prison for that offense, the prosecutor added.

The following September, Gonzalez and another man were accused of stabbing inmate Reuben Alfaro to death in what authorities believe was another gang-related attack.

Gonzalez has yet to come to trial for the Alfaro killing.

Briefly moved to the California Institution for Men at Chino in late 1981, Gonzalez returned to the county jail in February, 1982.

While awaiting trial, Gonzalez was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, a knife, and attempted murder in connection with two separate attacks on other inmates, Dixon said. A preliminary hearing is pending in a third case.