Jail Escapee Found Guilty
Friday, February 4th, 1972
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 – Kenneth Como was found guilty of felony escape charges Thursday for his daring disappearance from a 13th floor cell at the Hall of Justice last Oct. 20.
The nine-woman, three-man jury indicated, however, that it had not yet reached a verdict on Como’s codefendant, Sandra Good, who is charged with aiding and abetting his escape.
Superior Judge Paul Breckinridge, who presided over the two-week trial, asked foreman Walter F. Woods if it was reasonable to believe further deliberations would result in a verdict regarding Miss Good.
When Woods answered “yes,” Breckinridge instructed the jurors to resume their deliberations this morning. The jurors began consideration of their verdicts Wednesday.
The judge immediately sentenced Como, adding a term of six months to five years to the time already being served by the 31-year-old convict.
Como previously had received sentences totaling 30 years to life on six robbery and burglary convictions.
Evidence presented at the trial showed that Como escaped by sawing through the bars of his cell. He made his way to a van parked on the Temple St. side of the Hall of Justice. Miss Good was sleeping in the vehicle.
Both were taken into custody seven hours after the van was driven off in the early morning hours.
Miss Good, 27, testified that Como forced her against her will to accompany him. Como also testified that he forced Miss Good to go with him and that she had no foreknowledge of his plan to break out.
By WILLIAM FARR
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