Jail Escapee Gets 65 Years to Life in Murder Attempt

Kevin Pullum, the wily inmate who escaped from jail using a fake ID bearing a picture of Eddie Murphy, was sentenced Wednesday to 65 years to life in prison for attempted murder.

The July escape by Pullum, who was sentenced under the state’s “three strikes” law, prompted sheriff’s officials to improve security for handling the 19,000 inmates in its custody.

“We’re very confident that this cannot happen again,” said Cmdr. Robert Hoffman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

In Van Nuys Superior Court on Wednesday, Judge John Fisher rejected Pullum’s latest attempt to fire his defense counsel and further delay sentencing.

“I am a mortal like David was when he went against Goliath,” said Pullum, 31, who was caught two weeks after his escape. “I need professional help.”

His lawyer, Denise McLaughlin-Bennett, argued she didn’t have enough time to prepare and supported Pullum’s attempt to fire her.

But Fisher, who had delayed sentencing five times in five months as Pullum hired and fired another attorney, replied, “Enough is enough.”

Pullum caused an uproar when, just hours after his July 6 conviction in Van Nuys Superior Court, he breezed unnoticed past armed guards and out of the Twin Towers jail.

He managed to do so by wearing street clothes under his jail uniform, which he dumped in an unguarded tunnel during his trip back to jail, according to authorities and a fellow inmate. He then ambled out of jail by flashing a phony employee badge he cobbled together from a newspaper ad for the movie “Dr. Dolittle 2” and the plastic cover of a trial transcript.

During his 16 days of freedom, Pullum went shopping, visited family and spent a weekend with his girlfriend. He was found on skid row, a few blocks from where he escaped.

Later, the Sheriff’s Department implemented a new identification system, Hoffman said. People entering the building are now required to hand over their IDs and are given an internal identification badge. Upon leaving, they must surrender that badge.

Inmates are searched before they enter the tunnel where Pullum changed clothes.

“If [Pullum] tried that today, he would be caught with the clothing and fake identification before entering that [tunnel],” Hoffman said.

On Wednesday, Pullum received two consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for attempted murder and use of a firearm for shooting a man six times in May 1999 during a dispute over drugs. He received 15 additional years for prior convictions.

Weeping in the courtroom audience, Pullum’s sister Jerryle Bradley stood and screamed.

“It’s your fault, you did this to him!” Bradley shouted at Deputy Dist. Atty. Jane Winston, who left the courtroom through a back door. Bailiffs escorted Bradley out.

Pullum’s criminal record dates to 1982 for a robbery he committed at age 12, according to court documents. As an adult, Pullum was convicted twice of robbery and once of possessing a firearm.

Pullum’s “criminal history, coupled with the present conviction, demonstrates an extremely violent and callous individual,” according to his probation report. “He has been stealing and terrorizing people since the age of 12 and he appears unwilling to alter his behavior.”

Los Angeles Police Det. Dan O’Hanian, who investigated the attempted murder, said, “Everyone who was involved in the case will feel better now” that Pullum has been sentenced.

“He could be thinking, . . . ‘The more times I get on that jail bus, the more opportunities I have’ ” to escape, O’Hanian said.

Pullum faces an additional 25 years to life in prison if convicted of pending escape charges.