DELANO -  California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are searching for an incarcerated person who escaped today shortly after arriving at the Kern County Superior Courthouse in Delano.

At about 10:45 a.m., officials were transporting incarcerated person Cesar M. Hernandez to a court appearance. Upon arrival, Hernandez evaded staff custody, jumped out of the van, and is currently at large.

Agents from CDCR’s Special Services Unit and Investigative Services Units from North Kern, Kern Valley, and Wasco state prisons have responded. The California Highway Patrol, Delano, and McFarland police departments are also assisting. CDCR has established an incident command post and is coordinating search efforts.

Hernandez, 34, is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs approximately 161 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair and was last seen wearing an orange top and orange pants.

Hernandez was received from Los Angeles County on June 27, 2019. He was sentenced to 25 years to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, a second-strike offense.

Anyone who sees Hernandez or knows his whereabouts should immediately contact law enforcement, call 9-1-1, or contact Lt. Anthony Sotello, the Incident Commander, at (661) 721-6300 extension 5506.

Since 1977, 99 percent of all offenders who have left an adult institution, camp, or community-based program without permission have been apprehended.