Felon flees courtroom, 6 years after escaping jail

[March 06, 2009]  SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- A felon who escaped jail through a storm drain in 2003 is on the run again in Southern California.

Authorities said Thursday they have not located Mark Georgantas since he walked out of an Orange County courthouse during his grand theft trial.

Prosecutors say he asked to use the bathroom during the trial Tuesday and disappeared. In his absence he was convicted of four counts of felony grand theft for using stolen credit cards.

Defense attorney Frank Sundstedt says he doesn't know where his client is but left messages urging Georgantas to surrender.

His escape comes six years after he and another inmate escaped from an Irvine jail. Georgantas was serving a one-year sentence for conspiracy to defraud, grand theft and violating probation.

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Information from: The Orange County Register, http://www.ocregister.com/

[Associated Press]

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