Last YDDC escapee caught

TUCSON (KRQE) - It took two arrests in Arizona before investigators realized Friday they had Ernesto Villalba in custody nearly three weeks after he escaped from a juvenile lockup in Albuquerque.

Three other inmates who also escaped from the state Youth Diagnostic and Development Center on March 29 already have been recaptured.

New Mexico State Police received word Villalba, 17, was in custody in Tucson, Ariz., after being arrested Friday afternoon.

Tucson police reported Villalba was first arrested on April 7 for concealing identity and another charge. At that time he gave his name a Luján and eventually released.

Then on Friday he was arrested again, this time for shoplifting and concealing identity. After giving a family member's name as Villalba, investigators did more digging, contacted YDDC and State Police and confirmed he was an escaped inmate.

Villalba is now awaiting extradition to New Mexico.

Two of the juvenile inmates who joined in the escape were quickly captured. Investigators soon received tips that Villalba and Adam Landon were in the Silver City area in southwest New Mexico. Landon was soon back in custody and returned to YDDC.

A separate internal investigation is now underway at YDDC as officials look into why two weeks after being recaptured Landon was present at party for model inmates that turned into a brawl that injured 25 kids and six adult staff members.

Landon had been sentenced from Grant County on charges that included kidnapping and aggravated assault. Villalba charges in Doña Ana County included battery on a peace officer, burglary and larceny.