1979 prison escape Peltier began serving his sentences in 1977. On July 20, 1979, he and two other inmates escaped from Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc. One inmate was shot dead by a guard outside the prison and another was captured 90 minutes later, approximately away. Peltier remained at large until he was captured by a search party three days later near Santa Maria, California, after a farmer alerted authorities that Peltier, armed with a Ruger Mini-14 rifle, had consumed some of his crops and stolen his shoes, wallet, and pickup truck key. Peltier attempted to drive the truck away at high speed down the rough gravel road, resulting in a broken transmission, after which he again fled on foot. Peltier was later apprehended without incident. After a six-week trial held in Los Angeles before Judge Lawrence T. Lydick, Peltier was convicted and sentenced to serve a five-year sentence for escape and a two-year sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm, in addition to his preexisting two life sentences.
1979 prison escape peltier began serving his sentences in 1977 on july 20 1979 he and two other inmates escaped from federal correctional institution lompoc one inmate was shot dead by a guard outside the prison and another was captured 90 minutes later approximately away peltier remained at large until he was captured by a search party three days later near santa maria california after a farmer alerted authorities that peltier armed with a ruger mini-14 rifle had consumed some of his crops and stolen his shoes wallet and pickup truck key peltier attempted to drive the truck away at high speed down the rough gravel road resulting in a broken transmission after which he again fled on foot peltier was later apprehended without incident after a six-week trial held in los angeles before judge lawrence t lydick peltier was convicted and sentenced to serve a five-year sentence for escape and a two-year sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm in addition to his preexisting two life sentences