Nevada County, California – A Fourth of July afternoon at a Nevada County fire camp turned into a search operation after one man was seen at 12:35 p.m. and was gone by the next formal count less than 90 minutes later.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Miguel Banuelos, 49, walked away from Washington Ridge Conservation Camp on July 4, prompting staff searches, escape procedures and notification to local law enforcement. The case now rests on a narrow window of time: last seen around 12:35 p.m., missing at the 2 p.m. count.
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According to CDCR, staff first searched the camp grounds after discovering Banuelos was missing. When they could not find him, officials escalated the response and contacted local authorities. The agency is asking the public to call 911 or the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office if Banuelos is seen or if anyone has information about where he may be.
Banuelos was received from San Diego County on July 23, 2025. He was serving a seven-year sentence for transportation or sale of a controlled substance and possession or purchase of heroin or cocaine exceeding four kilograms. His scheduled release date was April 20, 2028, according to state corrections officials.
CDCR described Banuelos as 5 feet, 7 inches tall and approximately 189 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Anyone with information may also contact Lt. Wayland Hanks at (916) 200-6127 or Office of Correctional Safety Special Agent Tim Keeney at (916) 210-9159.
Washington Ridge Conservation Camp #44 is jointly operated by CDCR and CAL FIRE. Its stated mission is to provide incarcerated hand crews to support local, state and federal emergency response, including fires and floods, while also completing conservation and community service projects throughout the year.
For the public, the most important instruction is simple: do not try to handle the situation personally. Officials are seeking tips, sightings and timely calls to law enforcement.
CDCR also pointed to a long-running statistic as the search continues. “Since 1977, 99 percent of the people who have escaped or walked away from an adult institution, camp, in-state contract bed, or community-based program placement have been apprehended,” the department said.