FOLSOM, Oct. 14 – Kenneth Como, a onetime disciple of mass-murderer Charles Manson, Tuesday was paroled from Folsom state prison where he had been serving a term for armed robbery and escape.

Como, 41, left the prison with $200 in savings from his institutional account and with instructions that he report today to parole authorities in West Covina, Los Angeles County.

Como became a follower of Manson after the cult leader was imprisoned for the slayings of actress Sharon Tate and at least six other persons that occurred in Southern California in 1969.

In August 1971, Como joined with remnants of the so-called Manson gang in a robbery in which more than 100 weapons were taken from a gun store in Hawthorne, also in Los Angeles County. Their plan was to use the weapons to hijack a jetliner at Los Angeles International Airport and to use the threat that they would kill passengers one by one to force authorities to release Manson from prison.

Within hours of the gun store robbery, after a shoot-out with Los Angeles police, Como and five other Manson devotees were in custody.

Como escaped from the Los Angeles County jail in October 1971 while he was awaiting trial. He was recaptured seven hours later in Hollywood.

Convicted of the robbery and escape charges, Como was sentenced to serve a term of 15 years in prison.

While serving that term at Folsom, Como in 1974 twice failed in attempts to escape.

In 1975, Como attacked Manson in the exercise yard at Folsom where Manson then was also imprisoned. It was announced then that Como no longer considered himself a Manson follower.

Como and another former Manson devotee, Catherine Share, were married in 1976 in the prison chapel at Folsom.

Catherine Como pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal criminal charges, including mail fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property.

Folsom prison authorities did not report Como’s parole until after he was released.